MANILA, Philippines — A House leader warned Tuesday that the “slight intramurals” among opposition lawmakers could delay the passage of the Reproductive Health bill, which is being targeted to be passed before the end of the 15th Congress’ second regular session in June.

House Majority Leader and Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales II said the ongoing squabble within the Minority could dampen the passage of the divisive measure, which has yet to be approved on second reading by the House of Representatives.

Minority Leader Rep. Edcel Lagman, one of the principal authors of the consolidated House Bill 4244, and House Deputy Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez are at loggerheads over who should lead the 27-man opposition bloc.

“We know that one of the main proponents of the RH bill is Edcel Lagman, but since there is an intramural sa Minority, considering there is an impeachment, there is difficulty in shepherding the RH bill,” he told a press conference.

The minority row stemmed from the Lagman’s insistence on continuing to head the minority bloc over the next 18 months, which Suarez said violated their term-sharing agreement.

Suarez said if Lagman would not honor the term-sharing agreement, he would ask his colleagues to sign a manifesto affirming their commitment to respect pact and calling for the minority leader’s ouster.

Gonzales said the unclear demarcation line between those who support and oppose the bill makes the measure “a really hard bill to shepherd.”

The lawmakers from the majority coalition are being divided by the RH measure, he said.

“I hope that one way or the other we are able to vote on it before we end the second regular session of the 15th Congress. So, meaning, before we adjourn sine die, we are able to vote on it either way, either it is passed on second reading or it is defeated on second reading. We have to decide on this measure because it is not also good for us to keep it in suspended animation. So, one way or the other, the people should know what will happen to this measure,” he said.

The RH bill, or the Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health and Population and Development Act of 2011, is among 19 measures that are in advanced stages of processing in the House.

Gonzales earlier said the fate of the RH bill remains in limbo, citing that apart from the personal beliefs of the congressmen, “some concerns” in their districts “might spell the “victory and defeat” of HB 4244.