Press Release
December 22, 2008

MIRIAM WANTS QUIAPO PURGED OF ABORTIFACIENTS

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago will file a resolution to curb the proliferation of abortifacients, or abortive concoctions and drugs, in Quiapo when Senate resumes in January.

Santiago, an educated lay theologian, said she is deeply concerned with the increasing rate of abortions in the country.

She cites in her resolution a recent news item about a fetus found dumped on top of a pile of garbage outside the Church of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo.

"It is ghastly that a holy place, such as a church, is surrounded by vendors who purportedly sell abortive concoctions," Santiago said.

Quiapo has long been a haven of abortive concoctions peddled as remedies for stomach aches or irregular menstrual flow.

"Until now there is little being done by law enforcers to rid the streets of vendors who sell drugs meant to induce abortions," Santiago said..

Santiago's resolution pushes for guidelines that will help law enforcers identify abortive drugs and concoctions, and will impose harsher penalties for those who distribute, sell, create, manufacture and formulate abortion-inducing concoctions.

"It is unconscionable for the government to allow these vendors to continue selling abortive remedies just because they can easily mask its use for a legitimate purpose," Santiago said.

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