THE BUREAU of Customs on Monday intercepted an estimated P24.4 million worth of abortion pills at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3. NAIA Customs personnel stopped two Filipino passengers, identified as Reuben Jesse Bautista and Glenn More Gaddi, coming from Singapore on flight SQ918 after their baggage showed image irregularity during the x-ray examination. Upon inspection, authorities found 34,910 tablets of Pfizer Cytotec Misoprostol 200 UG, 40,000 tablets of oral Pfizer Cytotec Comprimidos Misoprostol 200 MCG, and 3,500 tablets of Augmentin 625 MF Film Tablet Co-Amoxiclav. Customs Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force agents confirmed that the seized tablets are used for illegal abortion. According to the Customs examiner, Messrs. Bautista and Gaddi “failed to declare their importation and the corresponding FDA (Food and Drug Administration) import permit which led to the seizure of the baggage.” Based on a Bureau of Food and Drugs advisory, Misoprostol (Cytotec) is an unregistered product and thus illegal to sell, dispense or use. The two arrested will be charged for violation of Republic Act 3720, or the the Food, Drugs, Devices and Cosmetics Act.

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