HerRe ‘DEAL WITH THE DEVIL’: LEE SEEKS HOUSE PROBE ON ‘HUMAN BOPIS FOR SALE’

 

“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 on Thursday 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. ###

Reference:

Hermund Rosales

09176246863

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HerRe AMID PROGRAM 29 ROLLOUT AND EXPANSION, LEE URGES PBBM TO INCLUDE KADIWA BILL IN PRIORITY MEASURES

With the planned expansion of Program 29 in areas outside Metro Manila, Cong. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee urged President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to include House Bill No. 3957 or the “Kadiwa Agri Food-Terminal Act” as a priority measure in the Third Regular Session of the 19th Congress.

Under Lee’s measure, Kadiwa centers will be institutionalized in every city and municipality to make affordable food accessible to more Filipinos.

At the sidelines of the 4th Regional Visayas Conference of the Integrated Philippine Association of Optometrists (IPAO) held in Cebu City today where he attended as keynote speaker, Lee said: “Considering the gains of the Bigas 29 Program in Kadiwa stores as effective venue where Filipinos can access cheaper food, this measure aims to support our local food producers and effectively promote the growth of our agricultural markets. These agri-food terminals serve as a place where local farmers and fisherfolks can sell their goods directly to the consumers and the general market.”

“In line with the clear direction of the current administration to prioritize helping our agriculture and fisheries workers and make food products affordable, it is clear how establishing more Kadiwa nationwide can be a concrete and immediate intervention to the food crisis we face,” the Bicolano lawmaker added.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) recently announced that it was expanding the coverage of Program 29, which offers rice at P29 a kilo, to include areas outside Metro Manila. Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said they are expecting to offer subsidized rice in 23 Kadiwa stores plus three more in provincial areas by August 1.

In order to sustain the supply of the ongoing Bigas 29 Program, Lee also urged DA to automatically assign National Food Authority’s (NFA) aging stocks of rice and unhusked palay to sustain subsidized rice program and to cover more areas.

“Natutuwa tayo na mag-eexpand ang coverage ng Bigas 29 ng DA sa mga lugar na labas sa Metro Manila. Pero ang maganda sana, kapag may nakitang aging stocks na sa imbentaryo ng NFA, awtomatiko na itong ilaan sa Bigas 29 para mas maraming Pilipino ang makikinabang sa mas murang bigas,” Lee said.

“Hinihikayat natin si Secretary Kiko Tiu Laurel na gawin na itong SOP (standard operating procedure) para sa anumang nalulumang stock ng bigas. Dapat ding siguruhin ng gobyerno na magandang klase pa rin ng bigas ang ipamimigay. Hindi yung mura nga, pero mapapamura at madidismaya ka naman sa amoy, kulay at hitsura na durog-durog na."

"Anuman ang estado sa buhay, may karapatan ang bawat Pilipino sa sapat at maayos na kalidad ng bigas at pagkain,” the solon from Bicol added.

Aging NFA stocks refer to rice that has been in storage for three months and palay (unhusked rice) stockpiles that have been kept for six months.

“Dapat maging available sa mas maraming Pilipino ang murang bilihin lalo na ang bigas. Our goal is for DA to be able to offer subsidized rice in every Kadiwa store. If we automatically utilize aging stocks for this program, not only will we prevent spoilage of these aging stocks, we would also be able to feed more Filipino families, Winner Tayo Lahat,” he stressed.

“Filipinos deserve better and lasting solutions to their perennial problems, so we should demand better policies that will institutionalize programs to ease their burden. Pagaanin natin ang pasanin at burahin ang pangamba ng ating mga kababayan, lalo na sa pagkakaroon ng trabaho, kita, pagkain, at serbisyong pangkalusugan,” he added. ###

Reference:

Hermund Rosales

09176246863