Most of 'Morong 43' not qualified as medical workers

MANILA, Philippines - Majority of the so-called Morong 43 have no certification from the Department of Health (DOH) to qualify them as medical workers, police said yesterday.

Superintendent Jerry Protacio, spokesman of the Calabarzon police said only 10 of the Morong 43 were professionals, seven were college undergraduates, seven were high school graduates, 10 were high school dropouts while nine others did not finished grade school.

“A large number of the (so-called) Morong 43 are unfit for the task of health workers. The impression that they are trying to portray that they are medical volunteers has not been supported by legitimate medical affiliation or groups,” said Protacio.

The Calabarzon police emphasized that the DOH under its Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care is training those who have not finished their schooling as medical aides but they were given certification for them to get decent jobs. PITAHC was created through Republic Act 8423.

Protacio said majority of the Morong 43 have no legal recognition or certification from the DOH or local government health units.

Unknown to the public, the communist movement have their own medical aides in every Kilusang Larangan Gerilya (KLG), according to Protacio.

“These are the NPA (New People’s Army) members who use alternative medication, such as herbal and acupuncture, and other local procatices like hilot, etc,” he said.

He added that it is not surprising that many of the NPAs wounded during encounter with the police and military ended up dead because of the limited medical skills of their health workers.