Filipinas seek abortions online in largely Catholic nation

FILE PHOTO: This photo taken on February 13, 2026, shows a stall signage that says 'pamparegla' which refers to medication believed to help stimulate menstruation along a street in Manila. Abortions are strictly outlawed in the mainly Catholic Philippines, forcing women to turn to a patchwork of providers operating in the online shadows. - AFP

MANILA: Jane had been bleeding heavily for days before finally seeking help, not from a hospital but from the man who sold her the pills meant to end her six-week pregnancy.

Abortions are strictly outlawed in the mainly Catholic Philippines, forcing women to turn to a patchwork of providers operating in the online shadows.