Man, said to be son of ex-Sen. Revilla Sr, arrested over alleged smuggling of P24-M ‘abortion pill’

September 4, 2017 - 12:43 PM
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Reuben Bautista (L, with black cap) is seen with his luggage seized by Customs at NAIA 3. HANDOUT PHOTO, BUREAU OF CUSTOMS

MANILA — Customs authorities on Monday seized an estimated P24 million worth of regulated drugs – the stomach ulcer drug Misoprostol that is also being used commonly to induce abortion – from a man claiming to be a son of former senator Ramon Revilla Sr. at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.

Reuben Jesse Bautista and his companion, identified as Glenn More Gaddi, were arrested when their luggage showed an
“irregularity” during x-ray examinations, and yielded the Misoprostol, sold under the brand name Cytotec.

X-ray image of Bautista’s luggage showing the “irregularity” that drew suspicion of Customs examiners. HANDOUT PHOTO, BUREAU OF CUSTOMS

Lt. Reggie Tuazon, chief of police of the Bureau of Customs in NAIA, said Bautista and his companion apparently tried to sneak in the Cytotec, which helps to decrease the risk of serious ulcer complications such as bleeding but is also used in the country as medication for abortion.

A press release from the BOC issued Monday afternoon said among the drugs found in the luggages of Bautista and Gaddi were 34,910 tablets of Pfizer Cytotec Misoprostol 200 UG and 40,000 tablets of oral Pfizer Cytotec Comprimidos Misoprostol 200 MCG.

The two have already been brought to the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office where they will be charged with smuggling, according to the radio report.

According to the Food and Drug administration, the manufacture, importation, exportation, sale, offering for sale distribution, of transfer of any drug or device which is not registered with the FDA such as Misoprostol is considered a violation of Republic Act 3720 as amended otherwise known as the Food, Drugs, Devices and Cosmetics Act.

The two men arrived in the country at about 11 p.m. last Sunday on board Singapore Airlines Flight SQ-918 from the Lion City.

The customs examiner who conducted the examination in the presence of the customs appraisers, Enforcement Security Service agent, Customs Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force (CAIDTF) supervisor, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Xray Inspection Project agents, 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 after conducting 100% physical examination, according to a report from the Bureau of Customs. CAIDTF agents confirmed that the seized tablets are used for illegal abortion.

Customs agents requested the passengers to present the import declaration and corresponding Food and Drug Administration import permit.

However, the customs examiner said, “they failed to declare their importation and the corresponding FDA import permit which led to the seizure of the baggage.”

The Deputy Collector for Passenger Services recommended a warrant of seizure and detention to NAIA District Collector Edgar Macabeo for violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act Section 118, Bureau of Food and Drugs Advisory no. 02-02ii and Food, Drugs, Devices and Cosmetics Act.

The BFAD advisory warns all drugstore owners, pharmacists, consumers and all others concerned against dispensing/selling and using an unregistered drug product known as Misoprostol (Cytotec).

Moreover, the advisory said the manufacture, importation, exportation, sale, offering for sale distribution, of transfer of any drug or device which is not registered with the Bureau is considered a violation of R.A. 3720 as amended otherwise known as the “Food, Drugs, Devices and Cosmetics Act”.

Authorities are still validating Bautista’s claim he is a son of the octogenarian ex-senator from Cavite, who has been in and out of hospital for various ailments. A certain “Reuben Jesse Bautista” is listed among the children of the former senator and Genelyn Magsaysay. Two of their children (Ramon Joseph and Ramona “Mara”) are in jail, accused of masterminding the killing of another sibling, Ramgen Bautista, in 2011.