UP-PGH consultant cries foul over raid

MANILA, Philippines - A consultant of the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) yesterday cried foul over the military’s alleged illegal raid on her rest house in Morong, Rizal.

Dr. Melecia Velmonte, who specializes in infectious diseases, said she felt disrespected by the raiding team, who she said pointed guns at her helpers.

The 71-year-old doctor also alleged that the military operatives did not present a search warrant.

The Army yesterday raided her house along E. de la Paz street in Barangay Maybangkal,

Morong town and arrested 43 suspected communist rebels and confiscated firearms and various substances for creating bombs.

1Lt. Celeste Frank Sayson, public affairs chief of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division, said the 26 female and 17 male suspects were conducting a bomb-making seminar and medical training when they were apprehended.

In a phone interview, Velmonte explained that the arrested suspects introduced themselves as members of a non-government organization called Council for Health Development and used her rest house as a venue for their health trainings.

“I am a health advocate so who am I to refuse? They are members of a health NGO who just needed a venue that will accommodate the trainees. They paid nominal fees for expenses like the electricity,” she told The STAR.

Velmonte said among the suspects, she only knows one doctor and two training organizers.

“I saw them conducting the trainings. I even conducted a lecture last night about health matters,” she said, adding that their programs included nursing and surgical skills.

Velmonte complained about the alleged rudeness of the military raiding team.

“They did not show me any respect. My hair is white and they probably think I am just an old woman who is not worthy of their respect,” she lamented, adding she will still decide what action to take against them.

Former health secretary Jaime Galvez Tan defended Velmonte, saying she is not one who would join the activities of communist rebels.

“ Dr. Velmonte is well respected. I cannot imagine her being involved with communists. She is a social activist in a positive way and an advocate of better health services for the poor,” Tan said.

Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato, civil-military operations officer of the 2nd ID, said the team seized caliber .45 pistols and .38 revolvers, a canister, an improvised landmine, two pieces of improvised claymore mine, two kilograms of ammonium nitrate, seven blasting caps, 36 improvised explosive sticks, mobile phones, backpacks, and various campaign materials of the Bayan Muna party-list group. 

The operation was conducted by virtue of a search warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 22 in Imus, Cavite, he said. - With Arnell Ozaeta