17 June 2014 HON. ENRIQUE T. ONA VIA COURIER AND EMAIL Secretary etona@co.doh.gov.ph Philippine Department of Health (DOH) San Lazaro Compound, City of Manila Hon. Secretary Ona: As we all know, the recent decision of the Philippine Supreme Court in G.R. No. 2048191 has given us a shared responsibility and duty to ensure that nothing in the RH Law is implemented to imperil human health and life, particularly that of the mother and the conceived unborn child2—a responsibility and duty no less mandated by the charter of your good office.3 With respect to your charter’s mandate to “propagate health information”, we now write to request your response on the following matters:

1. Are there “MODERN NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING METHODS” that have any primary, secondary or tertiary effect as an abortifacient? Kindly provide us with references and department issuances upon which your response is based.

2. Are there specific kinds and brands of “PILLS” that do not have any

primary, secondary or tertiary effect as an abortifacient? Kindly provide us with references and department issuances upon which your response is based.

3. Are there specific kinds and brands of “INTRA-UTERINE-DEVICES” (IUD) that

do not have any primary, secondary or tertiary effect as an abortifacient? Kindly provide us with references and department issuances upon which your response is based.

1 IMBONG, ET AL., V. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY (April 8, 2014) and the consolidated cases, also known as the “RH Law Cases”. 2 “xxx it is apparent that the Framers of the Constitution emphasized that the State shall provide equal protection to both the mother and the unborn child from the earliest opportunity of life, that is, upon fertilization or upon the union of the male sperm and the female ovum.” (IMBONG, ET AL., V. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, et al., G.R. No. 204819, p. 44) 3 “Sec. 3. Powers and Functions. - The Department [of Health] shall: (3) Coordinate or collaborate with xxx interested groups xxx in activities related to health; xxx (6) Propagate health information and educate the population on important health, medical and environmental matters which have health implications; xxx.” (Book IV, Title IX, Sec. 3, THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF 1987)

2

Your immediate response to our queries will also be an invaluable resource for educating our constituent family organizations on the infomercials your office is currently circulating in social media4, such as the one appearing below (a screen capture from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pNWpojebjc):

With due regard to our recourse under Sec. 5(a)5 of REPUBLIC ACT 6713, and in order to lessen the burden on our public postal system, kindly transmit your response via electronic mail to: prolifephil@gmail.com. We thank you in advance for your prompt reply.

Sincerely,

(original signed)

ERIC B. MANALANG President

4 See https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChZQaAATaHjT_wG-kac3qfA.

5 “SEC. 5. Duties of Public Officials and Employees. - In the performance of their duties, all public officials and employees are under obligation to: (a) Act promptly on letters and requests. - All public officials and employees shall, within fifteen (15) working days from receipt thereof, respond to letters telegrams or other means of communications sent by the public. The reply must contain the action taken on the request.”

3

Copy Furnished (Co-petitioners in the RH Law Cases) VIA EMAIL:

SPOUSES JAMES AND LOVELY-ANN C. IMBONG ALLIANCE FOR THE FAMILY FOUNDATION PHILIPPINES, INC. TASK FORCE FOR FAMILY AND LIFE VISAYAS, INC. SERVE LIFE CAGAYAN DE ORO, INC. EXPEDITO A. BUGARIN, JR. EDUARDO B. OLAGUER PHILIPPINE ALLIANCE OF XSEMINARIANS, INC. DOCTORS FOR LIFE SPOUSES FRANCISCO AND MARIA FENNY C. TATAD MILLENNIUM SAINT FOUNDATION, INC. JOHN WALTER B. JUAT COUPLES FOR CHRIST FOUNDATION, INC.