Cops rescue 9 would-be kidney donors in Rizal

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Cops rescue 9 would-be kidney donors in Rizal

By Marlon Ramos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:22:00 04/23/2008

MANILA, Philippines – Policemen from the Quezon City Police District on Monday arrested three suspected members of a syndicate alleged to be involved in the sale of human kidneys.

They also rescued nine would-be donors from the group’s safe house in the town of Rodriguez in Rizal province.

Supt. Antonio Yarra, chief of the QCPD General Investigation Section, did not identify the three men because of a provision in Republic Act 9208 – otherwise known as Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 –
which prohibits the identification of the trafficked person and the accused.

Yarra said they have already filed criminal cases against the three who are now detained at the QCPD jail in Camp Karingal, Quezon City.

“We believe we have a strong case against the suspects. They clearly violated several provisions of RA 9208,” he told the Inquirer.

One of the persons rescued from the safe house said poverty drove him into selling his kidney, adding that he and the others have been staying in the safe house since last month.

“I can barely provide for my wife and children who are in Samar. I just wanted to earn some money and give it to them,” another would-be donor said.

He added that a member of the syndicate had promised to give him P120,000 for his kidney.

According to Yarra, they learned about the syndicate’s operations after a relative of one of the donors went to them for help.

The nine potential donors, aged 21 to 28, were mostly from impoverished communities in Bicol, Samar and Rizal provinces and Quezon City.

“Apparently, one of the victims changed his mind and instructed his relative to rescue them,” he said.

Yarra said the syndicate seemed to be well-funded as the group offered free board and lodging to donors.

He added that among the group’s clients were doctors and hospital officials.

In an interview with the Inquirer, one of the arrested men admitted his involvement in the sale of kidneys. He denied, however, that they were forcing their “recruits” to sell their organs.

“I was merely helping them. I was just a broker to those who wanted to buy kidneys,” he said.

He added that he had sold at least 10 kidneys, including one to a doctor of a state-owned hospital. At P200,000 per kidney, he receives a commission of P60,000, he said.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view/20080423-132084/Cops-rescue-9-would-be-kidney-donors-in-Rizal

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What wonderful policework!  Now nine people in need of a kidney transplant will die needlessly, and nine potential donors who would have become rich by Philippine standards from the donation, becoming able to save their families from malnutrition, lack of healthcare, and lack of schooling, will now sink further into desperate poverty.  Its a lose-lose situation, which is we all know, is just what morality requires.