Remember the whole mess about family planning and contraceptives? Bb. Pilipinas International 2017 Mariel de Leon has something to say.
Read: This whole mess with contraceptives in the Philippines is practically ‘killling women’
In a series of posts on her Twitter account posted on Wednesday evening, De Leon urged the Supreme Court to lift the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) halting the procurement and distribution of female contraceptives in the Philippines.
“Birth control pills are slowly going away. What will you do when they’re all gone?” De Leon wrote. “Let’s take our bodies back.”
TRO on contraceptives. Birth control pills are slowly going away. What will you do when they’re all gone? Let’s take our bodies back.
— Mariel de Leon (@mariaangelicadl) May 17, 2017
In June 2015, the Supreme Court issued a TRO that forbids the government to procure or sell contraceptive implants for the product’s alleged aborsive effects.
When the Department of Health appealed for the lifting of the TRO, the court’s decision had the effect of expanding the prohibition to other contraceptives, including birth control pills.
In effect, progestin-only pills are expected to be gone from drugstore shelves by mid-2017. By 2020, the condom might be the only available contraceptive in the country.
Advocates for women’s health and the Reproductive Health law are urging the Supreme Court to lift the TRO to give women access to contraceptives, which are also used to address health issues such as hormone imbalance.
“What about women with PCOS, acne, severe dysmenorrhea, irregular period, etc.? What about our freedom of choice when it comes to family planning? What about women’s health?” De Leon asked.
“You’re not ‘pro-life’ if you deprive women of something that’s good for our health and our future,” she concluded.
You’re not “pro life” if you deprive women of something that’s good for our health and our future.
— Mariel de Leon (@mariaangelicadl) May 17, 2017
De Leon previously received backlash from netizens after she criticized the appointment of Mocha Uson as Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary.
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