Newly-appointed Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro drew flak from former Akbayan Party-list Rep. Risa Hontiveros for saying that the media are only adding fuel to the fire between Department of Education (DepEd) and the Catholic Church regarding the country’s controversial sex education program.

Hontiveros, who lost in the senatorial race even after running under the ticket of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III in the Liberal Party (LP), also challenged the new cabinet official to reveal his position about the plan to teach sex education in public schools.

“It is important for the media to know if the secretary's position on reproductive health reflects the position taken by President Noynoy Aquino on responsible parenthood during the campaign,” Hontiveros said.

“Education is imbued with public interest. He should always be open to scrutiny, especially on an issue as important and as crucial as sex education,” she pointed out.

Hontiveros reminded Luistro that government officials should be conscious of allowing the public to participate in how policies are made or implemented because that is “the core of the People Power spirit that led to this change of regime.”

On his first day of appointment as the new head of DepEd, Luistro refused to answer question from reporters about sex education, saying: “Stop asking this question because the media, you are not helping.”

Hontiveros added that President Aquino also wants parents to have an “informed choice” that will make them help decisions in controlling their own families.

“Responsible parenthood shouldn't be taught during parenthood. Through age-appropriate methods, adolescents must be taught about sex and sexuality to lessen risks to their well-being and health,”she said.

Hontiveros was among the legislators who pushed for the Reproductive Health bill in the House of Representatives in the previous Congresses.