Decriminalize Abortion: A plea for Women’s Right

by Catalina Cassandra Uyguanco

the Philippines; he is a monumental lawyer—a politician with credentials and achievements. On the contrary, Bongbong Marcos insisted that he obtained a bachelor’s degree at the University of Oxford; not to mention he got convicted for evading taxes. He is also running for President with an idealistic platform. For the past few months, concrete plans have been absent— just like his presence in presidential debates, forums, and interviews crucial for becoming a leader.

The Marcoses and their camp have been trying to regain their reputation by painting their family’s bleak tyranny as the socalled “golden era” for the upcoming elections. Could it be an ambitious proclamation to deceive Filipinos’ seemingly hopeful and unknowing minds? Would it be repeated history with our lives at cost if he wins?

As the seasons change and people age, the Philippines’ say on abortion remains the same—Illegal.

Growing up with my mom, who happened to be a nurse, countless times, some pregnant women sought medical help to terminate their pregnancy in secret. I have remembered my mom refusing my aunt, who wanted the same, only to find out years later that her child had been undergoing therapy because he suffered enough abuse and trauma from her mom. Only then did I realize that people should listen to women when they say they cannot afford to have a child because, in the long run, the unwanted fetus could remain undesirable for the rest of its life.

By criminalizing abortion, we dismiss hopeless, unprivileged women from their rights to their bodies. However, by legalizing it, a woman can choose whether to keep it or not rather than just having no other way but to keep and suffer with the child when it grows. Pro-life people should think beyond the idea of killing life because, in the first place—it doesn’t.

According to a research paper on medical ethics conducted by Soroush Dabbagh; a 4-week-old embryo cannot be regarded as a living being as it is nothing more than a complex of cellular elements. If some are planning to bring up religion, the research says that on most ethnicities and religious beliefs, only then can a fetus be recognized as a human being when it is on its 16th week because of what they called ‘ensoulment.’ In other words, getting rid of a fetus in its early ages is not immoral and most importantly, should not be illegal.

Revised Penal Code of 1930 states that abortion is criminalized and should not be performed under any circumstances, even if it imposes a threat on a woman and her health. Even given the mother’s consent, medical practitioners are to be imprisoned for up to six years if they perform an abortion. It had been a promising mandate in attempts to preserve human rights; however, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights, more than half a million had died attempting to perform an unsafe abortion. It had also taken the lives of an estimated 1,000 women in 2008 alone. The Penal Code seeks to prevent abortion only to endanger the lives of many women who need it.

“Abortion is murder” is something a religious and self-righteous person would use as a rebuttal, then how about rephrasing it with: “Abortion is a choice,” as we are in no position to dictate a woman who would want to discard her little string for not everyone has the privilege to raise a child properly; both physically and mentally. Others also say they would agree with the legalization of abortion only under certain circumstances: rape and incest—a somewhat modest way to say women should first obtain rights to their bodies.

Instead of fretting about abortion and how it is immoral, why don’t they initiate fundraising programs to help and support mothers from pregnancy to child support? Foster cares in the country should be given attention as well. If neither of the two suggestions would work, let legal abortion do its job efficiently.

My mom would always say she was the one who brought me to this world—so she has the right to erase me. She has a point, I did not wish to be born, and I’m sure many kids think the same. A mother has the right to keep or discard a mindless fetus, for it cannot decide.

Every child is a blessing, but not every mother can be a blessing to their child.