DEC.

8, 2013

NR # 3311B

Increase penalties against abortion Bagatsing

With many reports of abortions rampantly performed, a Manila lawmaker has authored a measure increasing penalties against abortion prescribed in the Revised Penal Code. etuses have been found in garbage cans, thrown and abandoned by their mothers only to be discovered by unknown and concerned citi!ens and reported by the media," laments Rep. #mado $agatsing %&th 'istrict, Manila(, author of )$ *+,-. $agatsing noted that some %fetuses( never get to be discovered at all, sadly to be left in the confines of anonymity. .hese fetuses are the unwanted and uncared for unborn babies who have been wantonly murdered to hide the shame of their mothers." .he -/01 Constitution states2 .he 3tate shall e4ually protect the life of the mothers and the life of the unborn from conception." We have to give more flesh to this constitutional right of the unborn. .his bill recogni!es the unborn child5s basic right to life and the need to be protected against acts which pose danger to his6her life, bearing in mind that the unborn child is totally incapable of protecting himself6herself," the author stressed. Moreover, the bill further aims to establish a system for monitoring and reporting of incidents of abortion for the prosecution and rehabilitation of those who may be charged with committing offenses under the Revised Penal Code, $agatsing said. #ny person who shall intentionally cause an abortion, as proposed under the bill, shall suffer2 -( the penalty of life imprisonment %reclusion perpetua from reclusion temporal( if he shall use any violence upon the person of a pregnant woman7 +( the penalty of -+ years and one day to +, years %reclusion temporal from prision mayor( if without using violence, he shall act without the consent of the woman7 *( the penalty of si8 years and one day to -+ years % prision mayor from prision correccional(, if the woman shall have consented. .he penalty of one month and one day to si8 months in its minimum and medium periods shall be imposed upon any person who shall cause an abortion by violence by unintentionally. Penalties on abortion practiced by the women herself or by her parents shall also be increased a notch higher. #bortion practiced by a physician or midwife and dispensing of an abortive shall be covered by the proposed increased penalties. #n pharmacist who, without the proper prescription from a physician, shall dispense any abortive shall suffer prision correccional and a fine not e8ceeding P-,,,,,, %from P-,,,,(. #bortifacients refers to any device, drug, formulation, substance, practice or procedure which is intended to or may damage, in9ure, interfere with the development, endanger or cause the death of the unborn child or otherwise induce abortion and cause the e8pulsion or death of the unborn child." %*,( dpt