Discussion at the House of Representatives on amendments to the Reproductive Health bill inched forward on Monday despite delays, including hour-long voting on an anti-RH bill lawmaker's motion to give a 10-minute speech.

Kathrina Alvarez of Sun.Star Online reports Palawan Representative Dennis Socrates wanted to give a 10-minute speech on due process, saying he was not given the chance to "discuss his position on November 26 when the substitute bill to the RH bill was adopted in the plenary."

"Before RH main proponent Albay Representative Edcel Lagman was recognized on the floor, members of the chamber took more than an hour on voting on the appeal of Palawan Representative Dennis Socrates to let him speak for 10 minutes," the report said. The House voted 99-91-1 and Socrates's motion was not carried.

Cebu Representative Pablo Garcia, meanwhile, moved to have the RH bill amended to limit the distribution of RH services to married couples. That motion failed with 91 members of the House voting against it.

Before that, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, who is also against the RH bill, gave a privilege speech on a territorial dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea.

The House suspended its session at around 10 p.m. after discussing amendments on two pages of the 27-page substitute RH bill.

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