Liberal Party Senatorial aspirant Martin “Dr. Balikbayan” Bautista denounces the arrest of 43 health workers in Morong, Rizal for vague and unsubstantiated charges of allegedly collaborating with the New People’s Army (NPA).
Bautista slams the acts of the military for its warrantless arrest last Saturday morning compounded by the prolonged detention of the health workers. “Until today, the military refuses to show any of the health workers to their relatives. They are even deprived of their basic right to counsel. It seems like we are back in the days of Martial Law”, Bautista said.
A skills enhancement training for community health workers in the said town was ongoing when the arrest took place. Bautista, a specialized medical doctor practicing in the United States, went back to the Philippines with the intention of becoming the chief advocate of health care reform in the country. Bautista lashed out the Arroyo regime for its unprecedented disregard of the health sector.
Bautista pointed out, “The Arroyo regime time and again, has continuously neglected the plight of the medical practitioners and the entire health care of this country. These health workers were trying to propagate basic health care awareness, and instead of rewarding these health professionals, they were harassed and illegally detained. Gumagawa ng nga ng tama, pinarurusahan pa.”
“Given that the Commission on Human Rights has already refuted the false accusations of the authorities against the health workers, I demand their immediate release!”, Bautista added.
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