Maguindanao nurses demand justice for fellow nurse

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Unfazed by Saturday’s alleged gang-rape of a co-worker, volunteer nurses and midwives in South Upi, Ma­guindanao pulled out from their areas of assignment yesterday, demanding justice for the victim whose alleged molesters are scions of big, influential families in the area.

The victim, Florence (not her real name) is still fighting for her life, being treated at a local hospital, guarded by policemen.

Hundreds of nurses, doctors and midwives, led by physician Tahir Sulaik, chief of Maguindanao’s Integrated Provincial Health Office, staged here an indignation rally and appealed to the police and the National Bureau of Investigation to put the culprits behind bars.

“It was an affront to both the victim and the medical community of Maguinda­nao,” said Sulaik, referring to the incident.

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) police on Monday launched an extensive search for 10 men that gang-raped the 21-year-old government nurse.

The nurse, who is a resident of this city, has just volunteered to be assigned in South Upi, an impoverished hinterland town, more than 50 kilo­meters southwest of this city.

Sulaik, chief of Maguin­danao’s Integrated Provincial Health Office, said the victim was on her way to the house of a co-worker in the South Upi town hospital when unidentified men flagged her down, dragged her into a cornfield and, there, took turns violating her.

The victim was found next day by passersby, unconscious and naked.

Chief Superintendent Bienvenido Latag, director of the ARMM police, said a special investigating team, led by Senior Superintendent Allen Fortes, is now gathering information on the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“The victim, who is now confined in a hospital, is also guarded by policemen to ensure she would be safe. Her testimony will be vital to the prosecution of her molesters,” Latag said.