Lagman’s RH Group is deceitful

Press Statement of Congressman Roilo Golez

I condemn RH Bill sponsor Cong. Edcel Lagman’s use of outdated 2004 data on maternal and infant death rates in the RH bill debates when there are already more updated data from primary sources like the Department of Health showing that maternal and infant death rates have improved.

Cong. Lagman wants to portray a nation where mothers and infants are dying in huge numbers when this is far from the truth, just to justify his promotion of billions of pesos worth of contraceptives and condoms.

The whole world is frantically trying to solve the global financial crisis, where billions are needed for pump priming projects, yet Lagman would rather talk about billions for RH and contraceptives which have no immediate impact on the economic crisis and whose long-term benefits are questionable.

Lagman insists on the use of Jurassic NSO data because they portray higher maternal and infant death rates when newer data are now available showing improved rates which do not please him. Why does he want to misinform and deceive the Filipino people with his wrong data?

I also condemn Cong. Lagman’s bizarre debating style and tantrums by refusing to answer more questions based on the updated data from the Department of Health which he could not rebut.

He looked like De La Hoya refusing to stand up and fight after being battered by statistical right hooks.