Marie Delcy. R. Jimenez

Marie Delcy R. Jimenez Abortion in the Philippines Abortion is being illegalized in the Philippines due to its definition of “immoral” act of killing of fetus’ life. It is a medical procedure to terminate one’s pregnancy in various ways in order for the embryo or fetus come out of the woman’s womb. The abortion is banned in the country not containing any exceptions including to save the life of the pregnant woman and to protect one’s health. Based on the views of the catholic church, abortion is an immoral killing of an innocent human being. However, abortion is a must among women who are pregnant due to rape, incest or placed a woman’s life at risk resulted to incapability to provide for the child’s future. Raising a child from rape or incest would result to “emotional trauma” which involves depression due to emotional pain and personal sacrifice in which a pregnant woman can put her life in danger. In addition, because of the lack of access to safe abortion, Filipino women with life-threatening pregnancies tend to risk their lives, either through unsafe abortion or through continuation of highrisk pregnancies and these Filipino women reported that health care workers haven’t been sympathetic to their situation, but instead, continue to abuse and threaten them. Safe abortion provided by the government would help these women victims in nurturing their lives despite of the traumatic experience. Also, this would lessen them to put their lives in danger. Due to this, underground doctors or the “Backstreet Abortionists” provided help for pregnant women who are victims because according them, a child’s life isn’t made to be relied to others and think about it. It would contribute to the population and poverty. Due to the presence of the abortion law: Republic Act No. 10354, women who undergone abortion are being persecuted. Instead of giving medical attention, they focus on punishment. The government itself promotes one to kill oneself. There are crimes evident in the country including rape. Abortion would help a lot to the victims who are “unwanted pregnant” and can’t provide for its future. Therefore, I could certainly state that abortion is a must as one of the options among women who are in unwanted pregnancy – whether due to rape, incest that would put a women’s life at risk or emotional instability. Thus, abortion must be legalized not in general reasons but in reasons that one would nearly put one’s own life in danger.