THE Supreme Court (SC) has issued an entry of judgment on its decision halting the distribution of two implants believed to have abortifacient character.
In a decision dated June 15, the SC said that in their decisions dated August 24, 2016 and August 27, 2017 stopping the certification and distribution of questioned implants, Implanon and Implanon NXT is final.
The SC cited in its most recent resolution obtained by the media on Thursday that in its April decision it remanded the case to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The SC ordered the FDA to inspect within 60 days the questioned implants and once it cleared the said devices for any abortifacient character, the TRO will be lifted.
“After compliance with due process and upon promulgation of the decision of the Food and Drug Administration, the Temporary Restraining Order would be deemed lifted if the questioned drugs and devices are found not abortifacient," read the resolution.
The questioned implants, believed to have abortifacient character, could prevent pregnancy for up to three years.
The release of the SC's resolution came two days following President Rodrigo Duterte's statement that Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno was sitting on a TRO against two provisions of the Reproductive Health Law.
This was not the first time the President slammed the SC for the said issuance.
During Duterte's second state of the nation address last July, he also called out Sereno for the same issue. He even suggested to donate the contraceptives to other countries in need before it expires.
The complaint against the Health Department for the distribution of the said implants stemmed from its failure to conduct public hearing in certifying the Implanon and Implanon NXT.
Failure to do so violates the due process in drug certification said complainant, Alliance for the Family Foundation Philippines Inc. (SunStar Philippines)