DAET, Camarines Norte --- Some 3,000 residents here joined the “Rally for Life” to denounce the alarming cases of illegal abortions that have placed this otherwise quaint provincial capital town in bad light.

        The rally held at the plaza here last May 17 and attended by various civic-religious groups, youth and students was staged following the arrest of two suspected abortionists who claimed that there were many others like them who were operating in the towns of Basud, Mercedes, Talisay and Jose Panganiban.

        Fr. Fidel Era, secretary of Bishop Gilbert Garcera, said that they were dismayed to learn that even some of the practicing doctors in the province were actually involved in illegal abortions. This is aside from reports that certain police officers have brought to the improvised clinics of the suspected abortionists their impregnated girlfriends or would send clients for the illegal operation.

        Concerned sectors here also expressed alarm over the unabated prostitution where flesh for hire girls openly peddle their wares at night along the stretch of this town’s Vinzons Avenue.

        While being confronted by the fact that this town is being notoriously labeled at the “Abortion Capital” in this part of the region, Mayor Tito S. Sarion in an interview said that he is doing his part to cleanse the town of its embarrassing title.

        ABS-CBN’s “XXX” TV program last week exposed the two abortionists’ arrest with marked money in possession of one of the suspects. The footage though fell short of showing an actual abortion which prompted certain residents to complain that Daet was viewed in the bad light while there was not enough evidence.