“Pakikipagkasundo sa demonyo!”
This is how AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee described the reported illicit trade of organs where health workers such as nurses and doctors are allegedly involved.
Lee, a staunch health advocate, filed House Resolution No. 1803 urging the Congress to investigate the illegal sale of kidneys and other internal organs in the country and to crack down on the said illicit practices.
At the symposium on Special Health Fund (SHF) organized by the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) – Negros Occidental Chapter and Association of Local Government Accountants – Province of Negros Occidental (ALGANO) held in Bacolod City today where he attended as guest speaker, Lee lamented how this “Human Bopis for Sale” scheme or the illegal practice of selling kidneys and other internal organs targets poor Filipinos and goes against existing laws, specifically the “Organ Donation Act of 1991” and “Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012”.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Philippines is recognized internationally as one of the global hotspots for organ trafficking along with countries like India, Pakistan, China, Egypt, and Colombia.
In his House Resolution, Lee noted that “many kidney donors, particularly those from vulnerable communities such as slums, are often unaware of the risks and side effects of the operation.”
“Sinasamantala ng mga ganitong modus ang mahihirap nating kababayan, lalo na ang mga gipit o ‘kapit sa patalim’ at desperado nang kumita para may pantustos sa pangangailangan ng pamilya,” he said.
“Ang nakakabahala dito, may mga sangkot pa umanong doktor at nurse–sila na pinagkakatiwalaan ng ating mga kababayan, pero sila pa palang nagtutulak lalo sa kanila sa kumunoy ng kapahamakan,” he added.
On July 17, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested three individuals in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan for being involved in an alleged organ trafficking syndicate. They implicated National Kidney Transplant Institute (NKTI) staff nurse Allan Ligaya as the alleged leader of the illegal organ trade, who remains at large, while three doctors were also summoned by the NBI for participating in the blood matching of donors.
Reportedly, there are nine alleged victims who were lured with a payment of P200,000 in exchange for their kidneys and were held in a house and subjected to various processes before their kidneys were eventually transferred.
“This may only be the tip of the iceberg. Sa pagsasaliksik ng aming opisina, naglipana na rin ang mga Facebook groups kung saan lantaran ang bentahan ng laman-loob ng tao. Halimbawa nito yung ‘kidney donor Philippines 2.0’. Isang search lang, lalabas na agad ang posts at comments na nag-aalok ng kidney—parang online pasa-buy pero laman-loob ang ibinibenta. May mga natanggap na rin tayong report na pati atay at dugo ng tao, talamak na rin ang bentahan,” Lee stated.
“Kailangang agaran at seryosong imbestigahan ito, para panagutin sa lalong madaling panahon ang mga nambibiktima sa marami nating kababayan. Pwedeng sindikato ang mga sangkot dito, at kung pababayaan lang na mamayagpag ang ganitong pakikipag-transaksyon sa demonyo at mga halang ang kaluluwa, ilan pang mga kababayan natin, kabilang na ang mga bata, ang pwedeng malinlang at malagay ang buhay sa peligro?” he asked.
The lawmaker further underscored the need for the government to review its policies regarding organ donation to increase its numbers which can discourage people from undertaking risky and illicit transactions.
“Filipinos deserve better, and we should demand better. Hindi totoong natutulungan ang mga nangangailangan kung kikita sila kapalit ang kanilang kalusugan, o mismong ang kanilang buhay. Dapat nang tuldukan ang karumal-dumal na gawaing ito, at masampolan ang nasa likod nito,” he added.
