Saying that the reproductive health bill only gives the poor “false hopes,” the congresswoman-wife of Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. Sunday withdrew co-authorship of the controversial measure that has earned the ire of the Catholic church.

Tarlac Rep. Nikki Prieto-Teodoro, chairperson of the House committee on the welfare of children, said House Bill 6043 has been “defanged and is now toothless” in addressing her advocacies — food, shelter, education and clothing for the poor Filipino children, The lady solon’s decision came in the heels of a group of Lakas-Kampi-CMD congressmen who are main proponents of the bill have abandoned the ruling party to transfer to either the Nacionalista Party and Liberal Party.

Her husband had also hinted he would not support HB 6043 when he declared during the  akas-Kampi national convention that the ruling party will respect life “from the moment of conception to the moment of death of our constituents.”

Teodoro, former defense secretary, has replaced President Arroyo as party chairman.

“We shall protect the life of each and every citizen. Respect for life shall be from the moment of conception to the moment of death of our constituents. The protection of life is guaranteed by our Constitution and on this principle there is no compromise,” declared during the Lakas-Kampi-CMD convention recently.

HB 6043 has been tagged by Church leaders as “pro-abortion and anti-life.”