Philippines harsh abortions practice unveiled!

Abortion is illegal in the Catholic majority of Philippines.

A veteran doctor in the Philippines Miriam said she has seen her fair share of high-risk operations but nothing like abortions in the Philippines. She said the abortion practices are highly dangerous and complicated in the Philippines. She said, “We take on huge risks if we agree to perform an abortion”. Miriam is herself using an alias to protect herself as she has performed four abortions on woman from ages 23-48 years old all in a secret agreement. She informed that doctor’s risk losing their medical licenses and could face potential charges in court, when they agree to provide abortion services.

Women who choose to abort live in secrecy in Philippines as the catholic leaders condemn the practice strongly. Crispin Varquez, a local bishop and prelate of the Catholic Church Philippines in an interview with the Radio Veritas Asia said, “The US Supreme Court’s decision to ban abortion is a good news”. Varquez said the move was timely as the holy celebrations for the Feast of the sacred heart approaches. He added, “It’s a decision enlightened by the Holy Spirit”. He told Reuters, “It’s a matter of a human life the question is whether it’s right to take a human life to solve a problem”.

The shame that Filipina woman go through for abortion is beyond brutal. Marevic Parcon founding member of PINSAN said, “The Catholic Church propagates the narrative that abortion is murder”. Like most in Philippines Parcon was raised with catholic values and she said the fear of abortion is embedded in the Filipino women from early on in their lives. “Nuns would show us videos of late stage abortions—it was that horrible control they had over your psyche and emotions” she added.  

Opponents have been protesting for a change in abortion laws in Philippines as the country’s new opposition leader Risa Hontiveros said that “Women must vigilantly protect our rights and freedoms especially amid the rise of authoritarianism and religious fundamentalism in many countries across the globe, I fully support the push to decriminalise abortion under the Philippine laws” Hontiveros said.