A 65-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly distributing abortion pills in Manila, shedding light on the underground market expanding around terminating unplanned pregnancies in the Philippines one of the rare nations where the process continues to be illegal under nearly all situations.
Women and girls seeking to terminate unplanned pregnancies frequently rely on internet retailers, street vendors, informal recommendations, and medications purchased outside traditional healthcare settings, where the reliability of the drugs is questionable and potential health risks may escalate rapidly.
An article from ABS-CBN News outlined the woman's detention during an undercover operation after receiving information that she was reportedly distributing abortion medications along with herbal remedies and conventional treatments in Quiapo, a neighborhood within Manila.
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A woman was discovered possessing five packages of alleged abortion medication, which were said to be available for 3,500 pesos (approximately US$57) each, along with herbal substances, incense, and traditional treatments. According to local news outlets, the woman rejected these claims.
Quiapo has traditionally served as a center for traditional remedies like tonics, ointments, and creams that promise relief from different health issues. The area has additionally turned into a place where unlawful abortive substances are sold, such as harsh herbal mixtures claimed to cause miscarriages, along with misoprostol—a medicine not officially registered in the Philippines but commonly utilized in medical procedures related to pregnancy termination.
Certain Filipino individuals shared compassion for the street seller on online platforms.
One user stated, 'Abortion is medical care; if we make it legally available, underground services—uncontrolled and dangerous—along with significant death rates would not be an issue.'
"LET HER GO FREE. Women will continue to seek abortions regardless of their legality. She is merely offering an answer where the Filipino health system and laws fell short," someone else commented.
Contraception continues to be prohibited in the Philippines, without exceptions even when facing life-endangering conditions or in situations involving sexual assault or familial relationships.
Females undergoing an abortion may be sentenced to as long as six years in prison.
Nevertheless, supporters argue that the negative perception surrounding abortion seems to be gradually diminishing, especially among younger Filipinos who more often view it as a medical and public health matter.
For many years, abortion has faced significant stigma and remained an unspoken topic. It was often viewed with shame and kept secret instead of being openly discussed. However, it continues to be a real experience for numerous individuals," said Kristine Chan, president of the Filipino Freethinkers and a member of the steering committee of the Philippine Safe Abortion Advocacy Network (Pinsan), during an interview with This Week in Asia.
Chan noted that unplanned and teenage pregnancies stayed elevated in the Philippines, even as fatalities due to issues arising from abortions persisted.
Pinsan mentioned getting multiple queries every day from individuals looking for details about abortions, highlighting that the need for assistance remained strong even with the existing law.
However, shifting perspectives continue to be inconsistent, as noted by Marie Aubrey Villaceran, head of the University of the Philippines' Center for Women's and Gender Studies, who highlights incomplete sex education and ongoing traditional values that do not acknowledge women's control over their own bodies.
Due to limited access to proper medical care, individuals looking to end their pregnancies frequently resorted to dangerous and unsanitary methods, according to Villaceran.
Dr. Junice Melgar, head of the Likhaan Centre for Women's Health, noted that social media has increased access to information regarding abortion, yet this does not always mean it is safer or easier to obtain.
"Social media currently features many individuals selling medications and related services. These offerings tend to be costly—accessible mainly to those in the upper-middle class. The local women we know travel to Quiapo to obtain the pills," Melgar stated.
I truly can't tell whether what's being sold there could harm you, benefit you, or make absolutely no difference—some products might simply be flour that makes women think something significant will occur when actually nothing happens.
Her facility provides post-abortive treatment to women who have ended their pregnancies, an action permitted within the nation, yet Melgar mentioned that "many more women" still turn to illegal options.
In the Philippines, numerous failed abortion procedures include placing a tube, also known as a catheter, inside the womb – an extremely dangerous technique that may result in severe, potentially fatal infections.
"I've taken the hand of a woman who was dying from sepsis caused by an instrument... she believed she had a safe abortion. She passed away," Melgar stated.
Obtaining a safe, medical abortion may have an impact, according to Melgar, yet purchasing tablets through unauthorized online channels can remain risky and may not ensure the end of the pregnancy.
According to Clara Padilla, a legal professional and representative of Pinsan, three women from the Philippines lose their lives daily due to issues arising from unsafe abortions.
According to a 2025 National Health and Demographics Survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), 22 out of every 1,000 pregnancies involved mothers between the ages of 15 and 19. The PSA statistics further revealed that the number of births to mothers aged 10 to 14 rose from 2,411 in 2019 to 3,343 in 2023—suggesting potential cases of sexual exploitation.
The legal age for consensual relationships in the Philippines is 16.
Padilla, who additionally serves as the executive director of the gender equality legal organization EnGendeRights, mentioned that those pursuing abortions consisted of married women with a minimum of three children, young people below the age of 25, individuals dealing with medical issues, victims of sexual assault, and persons experiencing economic difficulties.
"this harsh truth highlights that numerous Filipinos hold firm personal beliefs against continuing their pregnancies due to different factors," she stated.
Conflicting laws
According to activists, ambiguously worded regulations have also caused confusion regarding safeguards for women pursuing abortions and the medical professionals who assist them.
The Filipino Constitution states that the government must "ensure equal protection of the lives of both the mother and the unborn child from the moment of conception," whereas the Revised Penal Code specifies punishments for deliberate termination of pregnancy.
Chan stated that both factors contributed to shaping a culture surrounding abortion in the Philippines, portraying it as something to be dreaded. He highlighted that the absence of clearly defined permissible medical procedures placed healthcare providers and patients in a legally challenging situation.
The most obvious conclusion is the ongoing divide between laws and actions," Villaceran stated. "The law seems ineffective as a preventive measure, yet it influences how women access treatment and compels them to do so beyond formal medical environments.
She referenced the Philippine Commission on Human Rights’ suggestion to legalise abortion due to its effects on women’s well-being and fundamental rights, and called on Manila to fulfill its obligations as a party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, which has advised eliminating harsh penalties for women who have abortions.
Chan echoed the sentiment.
"Prohibiting abortions doesn’t prevent individuals from pursuing them. Instead, it forces such procedures into dangerous environments and leads to greater negative consequences," Chan stated.
It is crucial to review the regulations, not because we disregard ethical issues, but to guarantee that the legal system effectively safeguards individuals' health and welfare.
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