MANILA – The Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) arrested three suspected abortionists during an entrapment operation in Bocaue, Bulacan.

PNP-ACG spokesperson Lt. Wallen Mae Arancillo said the entrapment stemmed from a cyber patrol operation on a Facebook page wherein one of the suspects offered termination of unwanted pregnancy for P15,000.

“‘Dun po sa isang Facebook page, meron pong nag-send ng message sa account ng cyberpatroller natin na nag o-offer ng abortion kung may kakilala daw po siya or magpapa-abort daw po siya – na P15,000 po yung ino-offer na pera,” Arancillo said.

“Ang ginawa po nila sila po mismo yung nag-offer, sila po yung nag me-message sa mga random account dun sa page na yun ng mga nag o-offer po ng abortion online and yun po yung na-receive na message ng cyberpatrollers po natin.”

Arancillo said a PNP-ACG agent posed as a client who wanted to avail the said abortion services.

“Hanggang sa in-engage po ng cyber patrollers natin and nag-meet po sila sa isang lugar at inihatid po nung suspek dun sa mismong bahay nila kung saan isasagawa ‘yung abortion po,” she said.

“Bale tatlo po yung nahuli natin doon, ang isa po is 53 years old ito po yung sinasabi nilang midwife kuno [na] nagsasagawa talaga ng abortion and yung dalawa po yung kaniyang mga assistants,” she added.

The two other assistants are ages 20 and 26.

During the operation in a house in Bocaue, Bulacan, the PNP-ACG was seized marked money, alleged abortion pills, and some of the equipment used by the suspects.

Arancillo has warned the public of the potential health risks associated with illicit abortion activities.

“Hindi natin masigurado kung ang mga ginagamit ba nilang mga gamot ay prescribed talaga ng doktor o suitable ba talaga dun sa paga-abort, and yung mga gamit po nila na ginagamit sa pang a-abort ay kung malinis po ba or  baka ito ay magka-cause ng infection din po after ma-conduct nila yung abortion,” she said.

“Kaya talagang binibigyan natin ng paalala yung mga publiko na iwasan po yung ganitong activities. Iwasan po yung illegal abortion dahil ito po ay [taliwas] sa law at may kaakibat po ito na imprisonment and fine.”

Arancillo said most of the victims are those who showed interest in their offers online.

“Ang sabi po ng imbestigador po is minamanmanan po nila ito years na dun sa social media account eh. Pero hindi rin po kami sigurado kung ilang years na talaga niya ginagawa po ito,” she said.

“Usually sir ang kanilang mga kliyente dun is talagang mga ‘di pa ready na maging nanay, yung mga sinasabi nila na unwanted child mga gan’on sir kung sino lang yung random na mga tao na name-message nila sa online at nakakausap nila sa online na kumagat din sa mga offers nila,” she said.

The suspects are facing charges of medical malpractice, intentional abortion, and charges in relation to Sec. 6 of RA10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.