Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. AND 
HON. BRIAN RAYMUND S. YAMSUAN 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The right of the unborn child is enshrined in the Constitution, Article II, Section 12. 
This State policy strengthens our "commitment to the protection of life, even in its 
incipient stage.” This principle is further translated into a specific state policy in Article 
3(1) of Presidential Decree 603, also known as the Child and Youth Welfare Code. 
This reads, “Every child is endowed with dignity and worth of a human being from the 
moment of his conception, as generally accepted in medical parlance, and has, 
therefore, the right to be born well.” 
Lately, State authorities have noted the rampant incidence of abortions in the country.  
These incidents have been administered by physician, midwives, nurses, and other 
health workers, complemented by the distribution, sale, and dispensation by 
pharmacists of abortifacient devices. These acts completely undermine the State's 
policy which seeks to safeguard the well-being of the unborn. 
This bill proposes to put more teeth to the Constitutional ban on abortion by providing 
that the penalties imposed by law be meted to their maximum and by imposing the 
additional penalty of perpetual loss of license to practice their profession by the guilty 
individuals. To encourage the reporting of violations of law, the bill exempts a woman 
on whom the abortion was performed from criminal prosecution in exchange for her 
testimony against the physician, midwife, nurse, or health worker concerned. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
BRIAN RAYMUND S. YAMSUAN 
May 9, 2023
8:00 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. AND 
HON. BRIAN RAYMUND S. YAMSUAN 
AN ACT 
AMENDING THE PENAL CODE, ARTICLE 259 ON ABORTION 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. The Penal Code, Article 259 is amended to read as follows: 
Article 259.  Abortion practiced by a physician, midwife, NURSE OR ANY OTHER 
HEALTH WORKER and dispensing of abortives OR ABORTIFACIENTS  -  The 
penalties provided in Article 256 shall be imposed in their maximum period, 
respectively: PROVIDED, THE ADDITIONAL PENALTY OF PERPETUAL LOSS OF 
LICENSE TO PRACTICE PROFESSION, SHALL BE IMPOSED upon any physician, 
midwife, NURSE OR HEALTH WORKER who, taking advantage of their scientific 
knowledge or skill, shall cause an abortion or assist in causing the same;  
PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT,  Any pharmacist who, without the proper prescription 
from a physician, shall dispense ANY PERSON WHO SHALL PRODUCE, SELL, 
DISPENSE OR OTHERWISE DISTRIBUTE WHETHER FOR OR WITHOUT 
CONSIDERATION, any abortive DEVICE shall suffer  arresto mayor  PRISION 
CORRECCIONAL IN ITS MAXIMUM PERIOD and a fine not exceeding  1,000  
TWENTY THOUSAND PESOS (P20,000.00), OR IN THE CASE OF A 
PARTNERSHIP, 
CORPORATION, 
OR 
ASSOCIATION, 
THE 
OFFICERS, 
DIRECTORS OR OTHER PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS OPERATION OR 
ADMINISTRATION, UNLESS PROVEN THAT THEY HAVE TAKEN NO PART IN 
THE COMMISSION OF THE OFFENSE, SHALL SUFFER THE SAME PENALTY; 
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PROVIDED FINALLY, THAT ANY WOMAN UPON WHOM ABORTION WAS 
PRACTICED BY ANY PHYSICIAN, MIDWIFE, NURSE OR HEALTH WORKER 
SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM CRIMINAL PROSECUTION FOR INTERNATIONAL 
ABORTION IN THE EVENT THAT SHE AGREES TO TESTIFY AGAINST THE 
PHYSICIAN, MIDWIFE, NURSE OR HEALTH WORKER CONCERNED. 
 
SECTION 2. A new paragraph, entitled Article 259-A, shall be added to read as 
follows: 
 
Article 259-A.  DEFINITION OF TERMS.  As used in this Act, the following shall 
mean: 
(1) AN ABORTIVE OR AN ABORTIFACIENT REFERS TO ANY AGENT THAT 
CAUSES ABORTION, AND 
(2) AN ABORTIVE DEVICE REFERS TO ANY DEVICE USED TO EXPEL OR 
EXTRACT ALL PARTS OF THE PLACENTA OR THE MEMBRANE WITHOUT 
AN IDENTIFIABLE FETUS, OR A LIVEBORN INFANT, OR A STILLBORN 
INFANT WEIGHING THAN 500 GRAMS. 
 
SECTION 3. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
 
SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. – Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to 
or inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
 
SECTION 5. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,