Organ selling is human trafficking, says DOH exec
Organ selling is considered human trafficking, the Department of Health (DOH) reminds the public on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said organ trafficking is illegal and different from voluntary donations of human organs. The health official’s remarks followed the arrest of three people on July 16 for alleged illegal kidney trafficking. INQUIRER.net file photo
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) reminded the public that organ selling is considered human trafficking.
DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said organ trafficking is illegal and different from voluntary donations of human organs.
“Organ selling is human trafficking. Ang pagbenta ng kidney ay pagbenta ng katawan,” he said in an ambush interview.
(Organ selling is human trafficking. The sale of kidneys is the sale of a human body.)
READ: NBI nabs 3 for alleged organ trafficking in Bulacan
The official’s remarks on Wednesday followed the arrest of three people on July 16 for alleged illegal kidney trafficking.
According to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), nine people were rescued in their operation on Tuesday.
The NBI also said National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) head nurse Allan Ligaya is allegedly part of the illegal activity.
READ: NKTI: No basis yet to sanction nurse linked by NBI to organ trafficking
On Wednesday, NKTI Executive Director Dr. Rose Marie Rosete-Liquete said in a press conference that Ligaya denied the allegations and that he would still report to work.
Rosete-Liquete added that the NKTI will conduct an investigation on the issue.
“Hinihintay po natin iyong resulta noon para, siyempre, due process. Malaman natin kung ano man ang pagkakamali kung meron, at ang karampatang parusa kung kinakailangan,” Domingo said, referring to the probe of NKTI.
(We are waiting for the results of that with respect to due process. We will know what was the wrongdoing, and if so, the proper penalties if necessary.)
