Stop harassment of health workers

EDITORIAL

There is an alarming rise of harassment against health workers in the Cordillera if not in northern Luzon allegedly by armed State minions particularly the army and paramilitary forces and this must be stopped.

This was known in known in a forum sponsored by the nongovernment Community Health Education, Services and Training in the Cordillera Region (Chestcore) in partnership with the University of the Philippines-Baguio Student Council and UP Kasarian Gender Studies Program last week at the UP.

Among others, Rosalinda Suyam of Chestcore claimed during the forum she has been a victim of harassment since 2007. Citing her experience in Gawaan, Balbalan, Kalinga, she said they have been subjected to interrogation by the elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who implied that they were members of the New People’s Army despite them showing official documents regarding their activity.

Recently, Chestcore staff Milagros K. Ao-wat got a text message in her cell phone saying “Gusto mo bang sa kutson o sa malamig na lupa. Sabagay kads andyan naman sina Charlie, Daniel, liyap at marami pa. Tsek tsek tsek!”

Timpuyog dagiti Mannalon ti Kalinga, in a statement of solidarity read in the program affirmed the relevance of Chestcore’s work saying “State officials should be ashamed. They have not been able to ensure that government health services reach our mountain communities. And they persecute the people who have filled this gap! If the state cannot help us citizens to survive, then it should at least stop threatening our survival.”

Ma. Teresa Quinawayan, a midwife of the Council for Health Development and one of the Morong 43, who came in behalf of the group to attest to the realities of such harassments through their experience in the hands of the military, stated their freedom was not the end of their fight. “Those behind our illegal arrest and detention must be held accountable so that this won’t happen anymore, not only to community health workers, but to any Filipino,” she said, citing the legal case they filed against then Pres. Gloria Macpagal-Arroyo and other state officials responsible for violating their rights.

Dr. Erlinda Palaganas, one of the Chestcore’s board of directors said even with P-Noy’s administration and with the AFP’s new Internal Peace Security Plan Oplan Bayanihan, the safety of development workers and community leaders is not guaranteed.

In sponsoring the activity, Chestcore said it is an integral part of their service to expose and denounce the human rights violations they are being subjected to, along with the many communities they serve because they fear that the continuing harassments will lead to the further deterioration of the people’s health situation.

Key Chestcore partners who gave support to the institution included the Mobile Nursing Clinic of Saint Louis University School of Nursing; Association of Cordillera Medical Students; Cordillera People’s Alliance; Center for Development Programs in the Cordillera; Cordillera Women's Education, Action and Resource Center; Cordillera Human Rights Alliance; Hustisya and Karapatan. The Kilusang Mayo Uno also passed a resolution in support of community health workers during their recently held national congress in Baguio City.

During the forum, Chestcore was also given support by the Association of Women Religious of Baguio-Benguet and Tanggol Bayi. In thanking all of these groups, Chestcore executive director Mia Liguigan, said that they are determined to continue this campaign and render health services even in the midst of harassment.

Government workers of institutions like the AFP should stop these harassment against health workers now.