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By RONALYN V. OLEA
After three days, relatives and colleagues were finally able to visit the 43 arrested health workers through the intervention of Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairperson Leila de Lima, who earlier denounced the military for refusing access to those detained.
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
Relatives and friends of the 43 health workers -- among them doctors, nurses and midwives -- who were taken by the military and police in Morong, Rizal province, on Saturday are set to file on Monday a petition for habeas corpus before the Supreme Court. This, after the military on Sunday continued to prevent them, as well as the media, from seeing those arrested in person.
By JHONG DELA CRUZ
Filipino nurses have the longest record of migrating, as well as the longest history of abuse. This abuse is a result of aggressive, profit-driven, exploitative policies of both their point-of-origin and destination countries. One of these is Canada, one of the most popular destinations now for Filipino nurses.
Sidebar: Filipino Nurses in Canada -- In Search of a Better Life (An Interview with Evelyn Calugay)
Even if seriously implemented, the Cheaper Medicines Law would still fail to bring down the prices of medicines because it did not break “the monopoly control of transnational corporations on all aspects” of the drug industry. This monopoly is the main reason why drug prices in the Philippines are among the highest in Asia.
Dr. Rogelio Peñera, an AH1N1 expert with the health department killed on June 24, was also active in a group of progressive doctors who provide basic medical services to the poor. Five of his colleagues at the Davao City-based United Integrated Health Services Foundation are included in the military’s order of battle.
A law passed last year to bring down the prices of drugs and medicines has not delivered on its promise, according to consumer and health advocates. It failed to break the stranglehold of huge transnational drug companies on the Philippine market. It also squandered an opportunity to develop the local pharmaceutical industry.
The AFP tries to malign the 43 health workers by calling them communists. Instead, the military is suggesting to the country that NPA guerrillas are dedicated and seriously serving the people, against all odds. The AFP could win its case in the Court of Appeals but it would lose the war against the NPA and public opinion.
Welcome to "On the Fringes," the group blog of the staff of Bulatlat.com.
Here, the staff of one of Philippines's most credible alternative online publications will blog about people's issues that are rarely tackled in the mainstream press. This blog will complement Bulatlat's reporting, featuring posts and stories that cannot be found in the main site.
We hope this blog would encourage dialogue between the staff and our readers.
Enjoy your visit.
Benjie Oliveros
Managing editor
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