FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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) 
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SENATE 
S. B. No. 3361 
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR MANNY VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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Under the 1987 Constitution, "the State recognizes the vital role of the 
youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, 
spiritual, intellectual and social well-being," (Section 13, Article II) 
Misoprostol or cytotec is a drug that is used for the treatment of peptic 
uk:ers particularly those caused by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs 
(NSAID), It was registered in many countries during the second half of the 1980s, 
and its use for the said purpose is contraindicated for pregnant women as it may 
cause uterine contractions and miscarriage, 
In Brazil, as in many other countries, where abortion is illegal, employees 
of retail pharmacies are accustomed to selling a wide range of drugs to "bring on 
periods", In the 1980s they realized that the uterine "side-effect" of cytotec made 
it a highly effective drug for "bringing on periods" in cases of delayed menses, 
The knowledge that misoprostol was very effective at causing abortions slJread 
rapidly and, by the end of the 1980s, a high proportion of clandestine abortions in 
Brazil were induced by misoprostol. Similar experiences have been described in 
other Latin American countries, 1 
Misoprostol's undisputed ability to bring on uterine contractions led to it 
being evaluated as a means of inducing abortion or labor with a dead or live fetus 
or to interrupt pregnancy, Its potential was especially promising in the developing 
world where maternal mortality is high and where an effective, low-cost and 
stable prostaglandin is urgently needed 2 
In the Philippines, after reports that the said drug is being used as an 
abortifacient, the Bureau of Food and Drugs (now FDA) limited its sale and 
dispensation to tertiary hospital pharmacies and big drugstore chains in 1994, 
Thereafter, the manufacturer withdrew the product from the market 
In 2002, FDA warned the public against dispensing, selling and using the 
drug because it was no longer registered with FDA, thus, the safety, efficacy and 
quality of the said drug is not assured. 
1 Introduction: Misoprostol in Obstetrics and Gynecology, InternatIonal Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 99, 
5156-5159 
2Supra. 


However, to this day, the said drug is being sold by sidewalk vendors and 
in this age of information technology, through internet, thus, the risk of being 
caught is almost nil, not to mention that the offense of selling this prohibited drug 
only carries the penalty of imprisonment of not less than six months and one day, 
but not more than five years, or a fine of not less than one thousand pesos, or 
both such imprisonment and fine, which, to this author's mind, is not enough to 
deter the sale of said drugs, as provided by Republic Act 3720, 
In view of the grave and harmful effects of using the said drugs to 
pregnant women and unborn children, the bitl seeks to prohibit the sale of said 
drugs and to increase the penalty therefor. 
Thus, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
Rr,PUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Third Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 3361 
Introduced by SENATOR MANNY VILLAR 
AN ACT 
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TO PROHIBIT AND PENALIZE THE SALE AND DISPENSING OF CYTOTEC 
OR MISOPROSTOL DRUG, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled. 
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SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy.-
It is the policy of the State to 
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recognize the sanctity of family life and to protect and strengthen the family as a 
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basic autonomous social institution. It shall equally protect the life of the mother 
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and the life of the unborn from conception. 
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It is also the policy of the State to protect consumers from trade 
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malpractices and from substandard or hazardous products. 
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SECTION 2. Unlawful Act/s. - It shall be unlawful for any person to sell 
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and dispense, for whatever purpose and whatever manner, cytotec or misoprostol 
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drug. 
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SECTION 3. Penalties. -Any person who willfully or knowingly does or 
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who shall aid, permit, or cause to be done any of the acts declared to be unlawful 
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in the preceding section or any order issued thereunder, shall, upon conviction 
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thereof, be punished by imprisonment of not less than six years and a fine of not 
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less than P 50,000.00. 
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If the offender is a licensed professional, the concerned agency is hereby 
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mandated to sanction appropriate measures on the offender. 
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If the offender is an alien, he shall be subject to deportation proceedings, 
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after complying with the penalty of imprisonment and fine for such violation. 
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SECTION 4. -
Any laws, decrees, ordinances or rules and regulations 
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wrdch are inconsistent with or contrary to the provision of this Act is hereby 
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amended or repealed. 
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SECTION 5. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
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publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved,