A rights defender, too
As if being a community doctor is not difficult enough, Natie is also involved in paralegal and human rights work.
Natie admitted it was not hard for her to do paralegal work since “it is never apart from health work.” She joined Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights) in 1999.
“Yung advocacy struggle ng tao para sa health ay malaking bahagi din ng struggle for comprehensive human rights, pag-enjoy ng lahat ng aspect nito, kaya madali sa akin na ma-appreciate ‘yun at dalhin ‘yung ganong panawagan” (The people’s advocacy and struggle for health is a large part of the struggle for comprehensive human rights, the enjoyment of all its aspects, so it was easy for me to appreciate and carry such a cause), she explained.
She revealed that a lot of doctors are afraid to do medico-legal services to victims of human rights violations. This is because, she said, they are afraid that the military or the police would call them for investigation. Because of this fear, doctors forced to do medico-legal work tend to downplay their findings by using safe terms, she added.
“E maaawa ka naman sa biktima kaya ako na lang” (I’d pity the victims so I take up the work), she said. She explained that immediate medico-legal work is important as certain signs such as bruises fade out.
Aside from doing medico-legal work, she also leads the conduct of legal services and the handling of the campaign for the victims.
Contradictions
Her family expected her to work in a hospital, wearing that white, long dress gown. Until now, they have been encouraging her to work in a “safe” environment. Her decision to work in the countryside was seen by her family as “a waste of talent, a waste of education.”
Thus, she maintains constant communication with her family to make them understand and somehow accept her chosen vocation. She said her mother would say to friends asking about her, “ang anak kong doktor misyonera, y’ung tumutulong sa mga tao” (my daughter is a missionary doctor, the kind that helps people). This makes Natie laugh, saying she would accept whatever pet name is given to her for as long as they accept her decision.
But she never denies that doctors like her in community service encounter contradictions. Health professionals like her are confronted with conflicts in the economics and politics of the community.
Being a community doctor, especially when she joined Karapatan, she knows she is very near danger.
She cited the case of a hospital built by the Religious of the Good Shepherd in Barangay (village) Balit, San Luis, Butuan City. The hospital administrator was killed by motorcycle-riding men wearing bonnets. Natie said the hospital received equipment worth millions and was ready to operate since December last year but no doctor would take the task for fear of the risks especially after hospital staff members also received threats.
“Habang y’ung environment mas nagiging harsh, hindi conducive para sa practice, laging nasa likod ng isip mo na pwede naman to run back to safety,” (As the environment becomes harsher, it becomes less conducive to medical practice and at the back of your mind you always contemplate running back to safety) she said. “Para sa akin, kung y’ung pagbabalik sa mainstream practice, sinusuka talaga ng puso at isip ko ‘yung ospital. Sa ngayon, sa tingin ko habang kaya pa ng katawan, bulsa at nandun pa y’ung commitment, patuloy pa rin ako sa community service” (Personally, I shirk at the thought of going back to mainstream practice and my heart and mind revolt at the prospect of working at the hospital. For now, I think while my body and pocket can manage and the commitment stays, I’ll go on with community service.)
