Philippines – Unintended pregnancies, abortions persist in PH despite total ban

Cristina Eloisa Baclig
April 09, 2026

Abortion is illegal in the Philippines in all circumstances. Yet data and personal accounts suggest the procedure persists, often in secrecy and, in many cases, under unsafe conditions.

A recent analysis by University of the Philippines Diliman associate professor and Inquirer data scientist Dr. Rogelio Alicor Panao, drawing from World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, found that unintended pregnancies and abortion remain closely intertwined even where the procedure is criminalized.

Continued: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2209231/unintended-pregnancies-abortions-persist-in-ph-despite-total-ban-2

Filipinas seek abortions online in largely Catholic nation

16 Mar 2026
AFP

MANILA - Jane had been bleeding heavily for days before finally seeking help, not from a hospital but from the man who sold her the pills meant to end her six-week pregnancy.

Abortions are strictly outlawed in the mainly Catholic Philippines, forcing women to turn to a patchwork of providers operating in the online shadows.

Continued; https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/3217783/filipinas-seek-abortions-online-in-largely-catholic-nation

Philippines: Making a safe space for abortion

Sep 30, 2025
Ana P. Santos

From shielded spaces of hotel conference rooms to the sprawling urban communities that dot our riverbanks and back alleys, women and people with vulvas have an abortion story to tell

If you give a woman a safe enough space, she will tell you her abortion story. I know because many women have entrusted me with theirs.

One woman told me about getting an abortion after an incident of marital rape left her with an unwanted pregnancy just as she was about to leave her abusive husband.

Continued: https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/health-and-wellness/dash-of-sas-making-safe-space-abortion/

30.09.2025

Philippine Safe Abortion Advocacy Network

Philippines: Hidden ordeal of women forced to seek abortion online

By: Faith Argosino - Reporter / @FArgosinoINQINQUIRER.net
September 28, 2025

MANILA, Philippines — Women seeking to terminate unwanted pregnancies seem to have found solace in online selling platforms, where vendors openly offer “abortion pills” or herbal potions marketed as remedies to “regulate” menstruation.

A quick search on several e-commerce sites, and even on Facebook, shows that these pills can be purchased through anonymous accounts — many of which are now inactive. In a few public online groups, sellers even post glowing reviews, with images of expelled embryos or sanitary pads soaked in blood clots and screenshots of conversations with “satisfied” customers.

Continued: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2116456/click-to-abort-hidden-ordeal-of-women-forced-to-seek-abortion-online

28.09.2025

Commentary

abortion pills online

Claire Padilla

Decriminalization of Abortion Bill

Philippines – Kiko Barzaga calls for legal abortion for rape cases

POLITIKO | politiko.com.ph
September 7, 2025
By Billy Begas

Cavite Rep. Francis Barzaga is seeking the legalization of abortion in the country, but only for rape victims.

“I seek to legalize abortion for rape victims,” said Barzaga in a Facebook post.

“It’s disheartening to see people losing their futures due to pregnancies caused by sexual assault,” he added.

Abortion in the country is prohibited under the Revised Penal Code.

Source: https://politiko.com.ph/2025/09/07/kiko-barzaga-calls-for-legal-abortion-for-rape-cases/politiko-lokal/

07.09.2025

Philippines – How real-life Sunshines inspired Antoinette Jadaone’s hit film on teenage pregnancy, abortion

How real-life Sunshines inspired Antoinette Jadaone's hit film on teenage pregnancy, abortion

By Melanie Uson
Aug 19, 2025

Filipino filmmaker Antoinette Jadaone deeply explored the real-life experiences of girls who got pregnant as young as 16 in creating her hit movie Sunshine.

From its initial limited screening, the award-winning film, which follows the story of a young gymnast who finds out she's pregnant ahead of the national team tryouts, has been able to reach a variety of moviegoers and spark meaningful discussions on abortion as seen in reviews shared on social media.

… Going beyond the praise and recognition it has received, Jadaone sees Sunshine not just as a fictional character, but as a human call for better sex education and support for women's reproductive health.

Continued: https://philstarlife.com/geeky/546710-the-generations-podcast-how-real-life-sunshines-inspired-antoinette-jadaone-hit-film

19.08.2025

Philippines: Cebu City abortion: 75-year-old lola, two others nabbed

By: Daryll Galindo - CDN Digital Multimedia Reporter
June 19,2025

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A 75-year-old woman and two other accomplices were arrested by police on June 19 for their alleged involvement in abortion activities.

The three arrested individuals included a 75-year-old woman who allegedly performs illegal abortion procedures despite having no medical background, a man who was tagged as the group’s driver, and an alleged middleman.

The three were arrested in an entrapment operation inside an inn in Barangay Carreta, Cebu City.

Continued; https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/642822/cebu-city-abortion-75-year-old-lola-two-others-nabbed

20.06.2025

Asia-Pacific: ‘Why young people should have access to all sexual, reproductive health services’|

By Ojoma Akor
Tue, 4 Mar 2025

Experts have said that young people should have access to all sexual and reproductive health services including safe abortion rights.

With regressive reimposition of “global gag-rule”, young people too have called for decriminalization of abortion. They said there is need to make safe and legal abortion accessible globally to all, including the youth.

Six out of 10 unplanned pregnancies are estimated to end in induced abortion, and around 45% of these abortions are unsafe.

Continued: https://dailytrust.com/why-young-people-should-have-access-to-all-sexual-reproductive-health-services/

Philippines – WGNRR calls for urgent passage of prevention of adolescent pregnancy bill

January 20, 2025

The Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR) and partners stand in strong solidarity with advocates, civil society organizations, stakeholders, and policymakers in the Philippines in supporting the passage of Senate Bill No. 1979, also known as the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Bill (PAP Bill).

We are deeply concerned that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has announced his intention to veto Senate Bill 1979 in ‘its current form,’ just days after emphasizing that ‘the teaching of sex education in our schools is very, very, very important.’ This contradiction to his position is disheartening, especially given the severity of the adolescent pregnancy crisis in the Philippines. Moreover, it is alarming that his decision seems to have been influenced by the spread of misinformation and disinformation about the bill.

Continued: https://wgnrr.org/wgnrr-calls-for-urgent-passage-of-prevention-of-adolescent-pregnancy-bill/

Philippines – Gabriela party-list nominee wants to decriminalize abortion in PH

By: John Eric Mendoza - Reporter
October 04, 2024

MANILA, Philippines — A nominee of Gabriela said the party-list group is in favor of decriminalizing abortion in the Philippines.

Gabriela’s first nominee former Kabataan party-list Rep. Sarah Elago filed the feminist party’s certification of nomination and acceptance (Cona) at the Manila Hotel Tent City on Friday.

Continued: https://www.inquirer.net/415516/gabriela-party-list-nominee-wants-to-decriminalize-abortion/

04.10.2024