Doctors in Mindanao now arming themselves

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) reported yesterday that practicing doctors in various provinces in Mindanao are arming themselves amid continuing threats of kidnapping.

“While a nurse has been gang-raped and left for dead, doctors are now a common target of kidnapping when they are just doing volunteer work. It seems kidnapping is an industry in some provinces in the south,” PMA president Oscar Tinio disclosed.

In Cotabato City, one PMA member was forcibly taken by a group of unidentified men in front of a hospital, but was able to escape through the help of military men, Tinio said.

Until this time, Tinio said, the PMA is still receiving reports from their members that they have become targets of kidnapping syndicates.

Tinio said most lady doctors in Mindanao are spending their weekends target shooting and are now carrying pistols in their handbags.

“Some of the doctors have even considered going on leave because of the kidnapping threats, ” Tinio said.

Tinio called on the government to provide additional security for all volunteer medical workers in Mindanao to prevent the possibility of them leaving their jobs there.