Health authorities ask legislators to consult experts on HB 3667

MANILA, Philippines — Health authorities have asked the House of Representatives to consult international medical experts before acting on a bill that seeks to impose stiffer penalties on abortion and widen the scope of prohibited acts.

A Department of Health (DoH) source said “abortifacient” as defined in House Bill 3667 could render the controversial reproductive health bill worthless because certain contraceptives might be included among the substances to be prohibited.

During a hearing conducted by the House Committee on Health, representatives from the DoH said resource persons from the World Health Organization and the Food and Drug Administration should be consulted on drugs and contraceptives that might be considered abortifacients.

Authored by Manila Rep. Amado S. Bagatsing, HB 3667 defines abortifacient as “any device, drug, formulation, substance, practice or procedure which is intended to damage, injure or interfere with the development, endanger or cause the death of the unborn child from fertilization/conception or otherwise induce abortion and cause the expulsion or death of the unborn child.”

The bill seeks to impose life imprisonment on a woman who practices abortion on herself. Parents who help or prod their daughters to abort pregnancy will suffer the same penalty.

Lawmakers who are against the controversial reproductive health bill Sunday are pushing for the immediate passage of a measure.

Bagatsing said he is confident bill will be supported by solons who have been blocking the House Bill 4244 or the reproductive health proposal.

A staunch anti-RH bill oppositor, Bagatsing sought the imposition of a maximum 12 years imprisonment for abortion practiced by a physician or any medical professional.

A pharmacist who sells or dispenses abortive drugs will also suffer the same penalty and a P100,000 fine.
Under the bill, abortifacients will be classified as a prohibited drug. –BEN R. ROSARIO, Manila Bulletin