MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court on Tuesday, July 16 extended the status quo ante order (SQAO) freezing the implementation of the controversial Reproductive Health law.
Voting 8-7, the High Court extended the SQAO “effective immediately until further orders,” according to a Court insider.
The law’s critics won a temporary victory when the High Court issued on March 19 an SQAO stopping the implementation of the RH law for 120 days. The order is supposed to lapse on Wednesday, July 17.
This means the next round of oral arguments for and against the controversial measure will push through Tuesday next week, July 23.
The RH law funds the distribution of free contraceptives, requires government hospitals to provide reproductive health (RH) services, and mandates public schools to teach sex education.
The law’s staunchest critic, the Catholic Church, said contraceptives are “evil” and “anti-life.”
The law was supposed to take effect last March 30.
Its critics faced the Court in oral arguments last July 9. -Rappler.com
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