Senator Koko Pimentel @TeamSenKoko tweets to discuss about #RHBill

One lazy sunday afternoon, I collated statistics: 5-6 pro RH Bill senators, 5 anti RH Bill senators , and 12 undecided senators. Just a week before, while having a Pinoy themed lunch with Carlos Celdran, Scott and Ryan, we discussed the challenges of the RH bill at the House of Senate. There are just too many fence sitters. Senator Koko Pimentel has made it clear he is against the RH Bill.

I was terribly disappointed with Senator Pimentel’s latest statement:

Why spend billions for condoms, etc.? We should be spending on education, jobs, real medicines that cure illnesses. Fertility is not an illness.”

I have been rooting for him to be at the Senate and he gives this kind of statement?

Yesterday I sent a tweet ranting about my disappointment on his anti RH Bill stand. I am not really out to convince the anti RH bill senators to change their stand . Senator Tito Sotto is one fine example of a staunch anti RH Bill senator but refuses public debate to defend his statements.

So I was quite surprised when Senator Pimentel via his @TeamSenKoko account tweeted this

Dear @MomBlogger, Hi ma’am goodafternoon! I and my team monitor the web daily and we stumbled on your recent tweet regarding the #RHbill.

I explained to the senator of my disappointment and that my focus is more on the undecided senators . He then added that “We can have a friendly discussion here in #Twitter. My office aims to be the most social media adept government office.” That was quite humbling and unexpected. I said that I could bring in @tweetnirizal and @carlosceldran. Pretty soon, Twitterverse soon began to engage with Senator Pimentel.

Tweets soon asked “why are you not in favor of the RH bill?” to which the reply was “The Senator is not totally against the principles of the RH bill. He is against some points in the law which are valid.”

That sounds reasonable. I thought he was dead set on being an anti-RH Bill senator. He concurs that “we have to see the bigger picture here that this isn’t only about providing condoms, etc. It is improving on basic services.” However , he seemed worried of the condom manufacturers asking ” Why don’t we let the condom, pills, iud manufacturers market them the same way as all other commercial products?”

@raissawriter raised a good point to the senator “… the profit that condom makers get from being used is INCIDENTAL to the RH bill. The law is not being passed FOR THEM.”

Besides the RH Bill is not just about giving free contraceptives. It is about informed choices.

It was decided that a discussion on Twitter through the #RHdebateonTwitter will be scheduled . Meantime, tweets came pouring in urging the senator like @jimparedes tweet to “… please heed the people and vote for RH. This is no time for political games. We want the RH bill passed.”

The senator may or may not change his stand on the RH Bill but he gets brownie points for reaching out to the citizenry. Like he said “As representative of the people, Senator Koko desires to hear both sides. Let us redefine the meaning of “Representative” Salamat! #RHbill”.

“KOKO IS YOUR SENATOR”, he says.

Those are just lip service for now. Let’s see if he is really working for the interest of the people.

May truth and reason prevail.

Below is just some of the discussion on twitter.

Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

Noemi Lardizabal-Dado is a Content Strategist with over 12 years experience in blogging, content management, citizen advocacy and media literacy and over 22 years in web development. Otherwise known as @MomBlogger on social media, she believes in making a difference in the lives of her children by advocating social change for social good.

She is a co-founder and a member of the editorial board of Blog Watch . She is a resource speaker on media literacy, social media , blogging, digital citizenship, good governance, transparency, parenting, women’s rights and wellness, and cyber safety.

Her personal blogs such as aboutmyrecovery.com (parenting) , pinoyfoodblog.com (recipes), techiegadgets.com (gadgets) and beautyoverfifty.net (lifestyle), benguetarabica.coffee keep her busy outside of Blog Watch.

Disclosure:

I am an advocate. I am NOT neutral. I will NOT give social media mileage to members of political clans, epal, a previous candidate for the same position and those I believe are a waste of taxpayers’ money.

I do not support or belong to any political party but I am a volunteer for senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares. I am also voting for #OtsoDiretso plus two :Neri Colmenares and Leody de Guzman

She was a Senior Consultant for ALL media engagements for the PCOO-led Committee on Media Affairs & Strategic Communications (CMASC) under the ASEAN 2017 National Organizing Council from January 4 -July 5, 2017. Having been an ASEAN advocate since 2011, she has written extensively about the benefits of the ASEAN community and as a region of opportunities on Blog Watch and aboutmyrecovery.com.

Organization affiliation includes Consortium on Democracy and Disinformation

Updated April 20, 2019