Dentists to meet with police officials

ARTIST’S sketch of suspect in Paco, Manila, rape-robbery case.

Just the tip of the iceberg.

Top officials of the Philippine Dental Association (PDA) on Wednesday said the recent spate of robberies involving dental clinics in Metro Manila was just a small part of a bigger, more dismal picture.

PDA executive vice president Dr. Arleen Reyes told the Inquirer that there had been several cases of women dentists being robbed and sexually abused in their clinics before but these were not reported to the police.

According to her, some of the victims wanted to maintain their privacy while others were afraid that their attacker would get back at them.

“Dentists are really vulnerable,” Reyes said.

Although she could not cite figures, she stated that even before last month’s case in which a man robbed and raped a dentist in her clinic in Paco, Manila, there had been other less publicized incidents, the worst being that of a 22-year-old dentist who was robbed and killed inside her clinic in Camarines Sur.

29 stab wounds

Reyes added that the victim, who joined the PDA only recently, had been stabbed 29 times.

PDA president Dr. Robert Tajonera, meanwhile, said that there were two cases in Marikina City and Laguna province although these were not reported to the police.

He added that at times, during talks with other dentists, he would sometimes hear of other cases.

Tajonera observed that although there had been a number of robberies since the 1990s, the fact that five cases were recorded just last month was alarming.

“Before, they only stole equipment. These days, they even take lives and [their victims’] dignity,” he said.

On Friday, the PDA will meet with officials of the National Capital Region Police Office and Manila Police District in its Makati City headquarters to discuss possible security measures for the protection of its members.

The security measures will then be relayed through a memorandum the PDA will issue to its 118 chapters nationwide.

Tajonera said they would also set up meetings with police officials in regions where cases had been reported.

At the same time, he urged his colleagues to be careful.

“Employ more manpower and install hidden closed circuit television cameras, buzzers and alert lights. Be alert about walk-in patients,” he said.