Family planning advocates in Philippines to file lawsuit against cabinet member barring contraceptives at clinics as Manila Mayor

Family planning advocates in the Philippines on Saturday said they plan to file a lawsuit against Environment Secretary Lito Atienza for removing all contraceptives from city clinics when he was mayor of the capital city of Manila, AFP/MSN.com reports.

The Reproductive Health, Rights and Ethics Centre and other groups said they have testimony on how Atienza, a devout Catholic, introduced a policy in 2000 prohibiting public clinics from issuing contraceptives or educating people about how to use or obtain them. The suit aims to "hold (Atienza) liable for acts which caused injury to women," Elizabeth Pangalangan, executive director of the Reproductive Health, Rights and Ethics Centre, said. Pangalangan said the groups were deciding whether to file administrative charges or a civil suit but said the details would be released later.

Atienza stepped down as mayor of Manila earlier this year but was later appointed environment secretary by President Gloria Arroyo. Pangalangan said the groups have wanted to file a lawsuit for several years but have had difficulty finding women to testify for fear of Atienza's position (AFP/MSN.com, 9/29).