‘Justified abortion’ urged

PRO-RH LAW Proponents of the RH law gather in front of Supreme Court displaying portraits of poor children. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–An international reproductive rights group has led about 50 activists and advocacy groups in requesting the Department of Justice to restore provisions on “justifiable abortions” to the proposed new criminal code that would be presented to Congress.

In a joint letter to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima last week, the Center for Reproductive Rights joined activists and groups in voicing their concern over the DOJ-led criminal code committee’s removal of abortions in a public draft of the code sent to Congress.

The 51 signatories to the letter include former health secretary Jaime Galvez Tan, gender rights crusader Clarita Rita Padilla, law professor Alfredo Tadiar and Bishop Rodrigo Tano.–Jerome Aning