2 women caught selling ‘abortion pills’ in Marikina

The Marikina City police arrested two women on Monday night for allegedly selling pills known to induce abortion, based on a lead coming from a tipster whose friend nearly died after taking the drug.

Charges for violation of the law regulating the sale of pharmaceutical drugs (Republic Act 5491) have been filed against Julieta Paz, 62, and her daughter-in-law Catherine Mendoza, 37, according to the city police chief, Senior Supt. Gabriel Lopez.

Paz and Mendoza were caught in the act of selling 15 Cytotec pills worth a total of P4,500 to the informant, Lopez said.

The two women were arrested in an entrapment operation along Sumulong Highway around 7 p.m. on Monday.

Lopez said the informant sought the help of the police after going sleepless for several nights over what happened to his then-pregnant friend who almost died after taking the pills sold to her by the suspects to induce an abortion.

Cytotec pills, the officer said, are considered a treatment for ulcer before they were found to have harmful effects on fetuses and pregnant women.

Lopez said the continued use of the pill can kill the fetus and then the mother especially if the dead fetus is not immediately removed.

The informant said that aside from selling the pills, Paz and Mendoza offered his friend other types of services to perform an abortion through their supposed connections in Quiapo, Manila.

But Lopez said a separate charge for violation of the abortion law could not be filed for now against Paz and Mendoza for lack of evidence.

Paz and Mendoza were detained at the Marikina City police headquarters pending their inquest this week.