(UPDATES) A HOUSE lawmaker has filed a resolution seeking to investigate the illegal sale of kidneys and other internal organs in the Philippines and the involvement of some nurses and doctors in the illegal trade, calling it "deal with the devil."
AGRI Partylist Rep. Wilbert Lee's House Resolution 1803, filed last July 18, states that the illegal practice of selling kidneys and other internal organs — which he described as "Human Bopis for Sale" — targets poor Filipinos and goes against existing laws, specifically the Organ Donation Act of 1991 and the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012.
According to the World Health Organization, the Philippines is one of the global hotspots for organ trafficking aside from India, Pakistan, China, Egypt and Colombia.
He noted in his resolution that "many kidney donors, particularly those from vulnerable communities' informal settlers, are often unaware of the risks and side effects of the operation."
"What is more troubling is that some doctors and nurses, with whom the people entrust their lives, allegedly become accomplices to a crime that pushes the victims into life-threatening conditions," Lee added in Filipino during a symposium in Bacolod City on Thursday.
Lee's resolution came after the July 17 arrest of three people in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan for involvement in the alleged human organ trade.
NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago and other NBI officials on July 16, 2024 present three individuals allegedly involved in the illegal sale of kidneys. Victims said they were forced to do this due to poverty and a promised payment of P200,000. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago and other NBI officials on July 16, 2024 present three individuals allegedly involved in the illegal sale of kidneys. Victims said they were forced to do this due to poverty and a promised payment of P200,000. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago and other NBI officials on July 16, 2024 present three individuals allegedly involved in the illegal sale of kidneys. Victims said they were forced to do this due to poverty and a promised payment of P200,000. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago and other NBI officials on July 16, 2024 present three individuals allegedly involved in the illegal sale of kidneys. Victims said they were forced to do this due to poverty and a promised payment of P200,000. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago and other NBI officials on July 16, 2024 present three individuals allegedly involved in the illegal sale of kidneys. Victims said they were forced to do this due to poverty and a promised payment of P200,000. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago and other NBI officials on July 16, 2024 present three individuals allegedly involved in the illegal sale of kidneys. Victims said they were forced to do this due to poverty and a promised payment of P200,000. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago and other NBI officials on July 16, 2024 present three individuals allegedly involved in the illegal sale of kidneys. Victims said they were forced to do this due to poverty and a promised payment of P200,000. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago and other NBI officials on July 16, 2024 present three individuals allegedly involved in the illegal sale of kidneys. Victims said they were forced to do this due to poverty and a promised payment of P200,000. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago and other NBI officials on July 16, 2024 present three individuals allegedly involved in the illegal sale of kidneys. Victims said they were forced to do this due to poverty and a promised payment of P200,000. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN
National Kidney and Transplant Institute staff nurse Allan Ligaya has been implicated as the leader of the alleged illegal organ trade, who remains at large, while the National Bureau of Investigation has summoned three doctors who supposedly performed the blood matching of donors.
Reports indicate there were nine victims who were lured into donating their kidneys for P200,000. They were supposedly held in a house, and were later subjected to various processes for the kidney transplant.
Lee believes that reports on the issue are just "tip of the iceberg" as his office saw many Facebook groups where the sale of internal organs was prevalent, including a group named "Kidney Donor Philippines 2.0."
"A single search will see posts and comments that offer kidneys, it's like online selling but instead of goods, they sell internal organs. We also received reports that the sale of human liver and blood are prevalent," Lee said.
If the illegal organ trade continues, more Filipinos will fall victim to syndicates selling human organs, including children, he added.
He urged the government to review its policies on organ donation to discourage people from undertaking risky and illegal transactions.
"We should end this heinous activity and make those behind it accountable," he said.