Midwife nabbed for nose lift operations

MANILA, Philippines - A 43-year-old midwife was arrested by the police yesterday for allegedly performing nose lift operations inside a house in Tondo, Manila.

Superintendent Ernesto Fojas Jr., intelligence chief of the Manila Police District, identified the suspect as Nora Balingit, of Taytay, Rizal.

“We have been receiving reports of the malpracti­ces of unscrupulous individuals performing illegal surgical operations which often lead to physical deformities, but the police could not act on them in the absence of complainants,” Fojas said.

The police made a crack on the case yesterday when a 26-year-old beauty products dealer complained of a botched operation performed on her nose.

With a swollen nose, Cecille Manansala also told police that the suspect was still in the house of her cousin where the nose lift operation was performed on her Tuesday night. Manansala said Balingit was referred to her by a friend. She said she became suspicious when Balingit refused to issue a receipt after she paid P20,000 for the operation where a liquid solution was injected to her nose. She also showed the police a prescription of Balingit written only on a piece of scratch paper. Manansala said the pain was unbearable after her nose became swollen the following morning. 

Acting on the complaint, District Police Intelligence Operations Unit head Chief Inspector Fernando Opelanio swooped down on a house along Hermosa street in Tondo where Balingit surrendered peacefully.

Balingit, who admitted that she is a non-licensed midwife, claimed she has been performing several nose lift operations in the past. She said she learned of the procedure from a doctor.

Opelanio said charges of violation of the Medical Act for unauthorized practice of medicine will be filed against the suspect.