Medical Action Group

Medical Action Group MAG envisions a society where the health and human rights of its citizens are upheld and protected a

Healing the Community Is Not a Crime: A Solidarity Statement of the Medical Action Group (MAG)The Medical Action Group (...
19/03/2026

Healing the Community Is Not a Crime: A Solidarity Statement of the Medical Action Group (MAG)

The Medical Action Group (MAG) expresses its strong solidarity with Dr. Ana Marie Rilloraza, a community physician arrested on March 11, 2026 in Tarlac City, and with all health professionals and human rights defenders who continue to face threats, harassment, and criminalization.

Dr. Rilloraza’s arrest reflects a dangerous and hostile environment where health workers engaged in community-based service are vulnerable to red-tagging, arbitrary arrest, and unjust detention.

As we commemorate Women’s Month, we highlight that many of those at the forefront of community health and human rights work are women who continue to serve despite the risks—both as health professionals and as human rights defenders.

As health professionals, they play a critical role not only in delivering care but also in upholding the right to health, especially in marginalized and underserved communities. Their work is inherently humanitarian and grounded in medical ethics, impartiality, and respect for human dignity, placing them at the frontlines of human rights work. Many are compelled to volunteer and serve in underserved areas precisely because of the persistent gaps, and at times neglect, and, at times, neglect of government's duty in ensuring the people’s right to health and access to adequate health services. Yet those who step in to fill these gaps, and selflessly respond where the system falls short, are not only unsupported, but are subjected to harassment, arrest, detention, and even physically harmed. The pattern of intimidation, attacks, and legal persecution undermines both their safety and their ability to serve. When health workers are targeted, entire communities are deprived of essential health care and social protection.

MAG underscores that:
- Criminalizing health professionals in the course of their noble work cuts the bridge for communities’ access to essential health care services;
- Medical neutrality and humanitarian service must be respected at all times;
- The protection of human rights defenders, including health workers, is a State obligation under domestic and international human rights law.

We therefore call on the government to:
- Ensure the immediate protection of Dr. Rilloraza’s rights, including her right to due process and humane treatment;
- End the practice of red-tagging and all forms of harassment against health professionals and human rights defenders;
- Guarantee a safe and enabling environment for humanitarian and public health work;
- Address systemic gaps in public health services to ensure that no community is left dependent solely on volunteerism for essential care.

MAG stands with Dr. Rilloraza and all those who continue to serve the people despite risks and repression. The defense of the right to health is inseparable health professionals' commitment to hippocratic oath.

Healing the community is not a crime. It is a duty that must be recognized, supported, and protected.

Medical Action Group (MAG)
March 2026

Medical Action Group (MAG)26 February 2026SOLIDARITY STATEMENTIn Defense of the Right to Peaceful AssemblyThe Medical Ac...
26/02/2026

Medical Action Group (MAG)
26 February 2026

SOLIDARITY STATEMENT

In Defense of the Right to Peaceful Assembly

The Medical Action Group (MAG) expresses its firm solidarity with Edel Romnie Parducho, MAG’s Resident Psychologist and Member of the Board of Trustees, and youth activist Threcha May "Three" Odeña of SPARK, who were arrested on 25 February 2026 during the commemoration protest of the EDSA People Power Anniversary.

Mr. Parducho is also a staff member of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA). Beyond his institutional roles, he has dedicated his professional life to advancing human rights and strengthening the mental health and psychosocial well-being of human rights defenders (HRDs) who face constant threats, harassment, and psychological strain in the course of their work. He has been instrumental in building psychosocial support systems for defenders by providing counseling, facilitating resilience-building workshops, and helping create safe spaces where advocates can process trauma, manage stress, and sustain their commitment to justice and accountability. In a context where HRDs are frequently exposed to intimidation, surveillance, harassment, and burnout, his work has ensured that care, solidarity, and mental well-being remain central to advancing human rights.

Edel Parducho and Threcha May "Three" Odeña of Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK) were arrested by officers of the Eastern Police District and brought to the Mandaluyong City Police Station. The PNP Arrest and Booking Sheet reflects charges under Article 148 (Direct Assault), Article 151 (Resistance and Disobedience), Article 153 (Tumults and Other Disturbances) of the Revised Penal Code, Section 13(a) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 880 (Public Assembly Act), and Physical Injuries. An inquest proceeding has been scheduled.

MAG underscores that the right to peaceful assembly is a fundamental constitutional guarantee under the 1987 Philippine Constitution. It is a cornerstone of democratic participation and a vital space through which citizens express grievances, advocate reforms, and hold institutions accountable. This right is likewise protected under international human rights standards, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which the Philippines is a State Party.

The EDSA People Power Anniversary symbolizes the collective assertion of democratic freedoms. It is a historic reminder that peaceful civic action has shaped our nation’s path toward restoring constitutional order and civil liberties. Activities commemorating this milestone are expressions of democratic memory and engagement.

Reports indicate that the arrest occurred during police efforts to manage and disperse portions of the assembly while clearing traffic lanes, where physical contact allegedly occurred between officers and protest participants. In such situations, authorities are bound by the principles of necessity, proportionality, and maximum tolerance in handling public assemblies.

In the light of their arrest, MAG urge the Philippine government to:

- Immediately release Edel Romnie Parducho and Trecha May "Three" Odeña who were arrested for exercising their right to peaceful assembly;

- Dismiss all unfounded charges arising from the exercise of constitutionally protected freedoms;

- Conduct Independent and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the arrests and the conduct of law enforcement personnel;

- Strictly adhere to the principle of maximum tolerance in the policing of public assemblies;

- Take concrete measures to ensure the safety and protection of human rights defenders, including safeguards against harassment and intimidation.

We reiterate the urgent need to defend and uphold the right to peaceful assembly as our democratic duty. We must collectively reclaim the democratic space where citizens can freely speak, organize, and participate in public life without fear. Equally vital is the protection of human rights defenders who stand at the forefront of advancing justice, accountability, and human dignity.

To defend peaceful assembly is to defend democracy itself.

We deeply mourn the passing of our beloved colleague and friend, Tata Villas. He will be remembered for his kindness, de...
04/01/2026

We deeply mourn the passing of our beloved colleague and friend, Tata Villas. He will be remembered for his kindness, dedication, and the warmth he shared with everyone around him.

Our sincerest and deepest condolences go to his family his loving wife, Cecil, and his daughters, Janna and Janelle. May they find comfort and strength during this difficult time.

🕊️Rest In Peace, Tata. 🕊️

Fix the Health System, Not Shortcuts The Medical Action Group (MAG), a health and human rights organization, expresses c...
22/12/2025

Fix the Health System, Not Shortcuts

The Medical Action Group (MAG), a health and human rights organization, expresses concern over reports that the Department of Health (DOH) has opposed proposals to channel the Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) Program through PhilHealth.

MAG recognizes that the issues raised by Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa regarding persistent delays in PhilHealth reimbursements are valid. These delays have placed significant financial strain on hospitals and have disrupted the delivery of health services. However, according to Dr. Nemuel Fajutagana, Chairperson of MAG, “these delays reflect serious systemic and governance problems that must be urgently addressed. The solution, therefore, is to fix the health system, not to choose shortcuts that further weaken institutional accountability.”

MAIFIP is intended to cover medical expenses not fully addressed by PhilHealth benefit packages. While Secretary Herbosa has argued that MAIFIP is not a form of pork barrel because funds are released directly to hospitals, Dr. Fajutagana emphasizes that the core issue lies not where the funds go but in how this assistance is accessed through political favor.

MAG has received a number of reports from patients and health workers that, in practice, some patients are required to secure endorsement or guarantee letters from politicians to avail of MAIFIP, even if this is not an official program requirement. Dr. Fajutagana asserts that “this practice effectively converts health assistance into a patronage-based system, where politicians are credited for what should be delivered as a matter of public service and State obligation.” Such arrangements undermine patient dignity and reinforce the perception that access to care depends on political connections rather than on rights guaranteed by the government.

Dr. Fajutagana further stressed that “this arrangement runs contrary to the principles of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law, which affirms that health ser vices must be automatic, equitable, and free from political influence, particularly for indigent populations whose PhilHealth premiums should be fully subsidized by the State.”

MAG maintains that:

a. PhilHealth payment delays are systemic failures that must be resolved, not bypassed;

b. Health assistance must be institutional, transparent, and rights-based not a political favor; and

c. No patient should feel indebted to politicians in order to receive medical care.

MAG also reminds Secretary Herbosa that, as head of the DOH and Chair of the PhilHealth Board, it is his duty to:

a. address reimbursement delays and unpaid hospital claims within PhilHealth;

b. strengthen PhilHealth benefit packages and fully implement zero-balance billing for indigent patients;

c. prohibit political endorsements, guarantee letters, or branding in accessing health assistance programs, including MAIFIP;

d. align all health financing mechanisms with the Universal Health Care framework to ensure equity, transparency, and accountability.

The Medical Action Group reiterates that healthcare is a State duty and a fundamental human right. Programs designed to assist the poorest Filipinos must strengthen public institutions, not perpetuate systems of patronage that erode public trust.

18/12/2025

Christmas Message from the Medical Action Group (MAG)

As our nation continues to grapple with deep-seated corruption and persistent human rights violations, where the environment is exploited for profit, communities are displaced, and voices of dissent are threatened and silenced, Christmas invites us to pause and remember the enduring power of hope, compassion, and collective action. It reminds us of our shared responsibility to stand with the marginalized, to heal where there is harm, and to speak truth even when silence is demanded.

At MAG, we remain steadfast in our commitment to defend the right to life, uphold human dignity, and promote health, especially for the poor, the oppressed, and those at the frontlines of social and environmental struggles. We draw strength from the courage of human rights defenders, health workers, environmental advocates, and communities who continue to resist injustice and uphold the common good, often at great personal risk.

May this Christmas season renew our resolve to care for one another, protect our environment, and persist in the struggle for justice, accountability, and genuine peace. As we welcome the new year, may we find fresh courage to act, to organize, and to hope—our greatest gift to our nation.

May we all have a meaningful Christmas and a hopeful New Year.

Nemuel Fajutagana, MD Chairperson Medical Action Group (MAG)

Statement of the Medical Action Group (MAG)International Human Rights Day 2025Title: Defend the Rights to Health, Dignit...
09/12/2025

Statement of the Medical Action Group (MAG)
International Human Rights Day 2025
Title: Defend the Rights to Health, Dignity, and Justice

On this International Human Rights Day, the Medical Action Group (MAG) expresses deep concern over the worsening health and human rights situation in the Philippines. What we see today is not only a governance crisis, but a direct assault on the people’s right to health, dignity, and justice.

Massive corruption in flood control projects, among others, and the diversion of PhilHealth resources to non-health infrastructure continue to weaken the country’s fragile health system. The annual discovery of expired and nearly expired medicines, worth more than ₱134 million this year, exposes the continuing failure and corruption in managing essential health supplies for the people. These are clear injustices that deny communities the lifesaving services they deserve.

As MAG emphasized in its earlier petition to the PhilHealth Board, those responsible for the unlawful decisions must be held accountable. Former MAG Trustee Dr. Juan Perez III stated that:
“Seriously, the people who pushed for the transfer of ₱89.9B should be accountable, have delicadeza. Nanawagan ang MAG sa PhilHealth Board na huwag ituloy ang paglipat ng pondo sa pamamagitan ng petisyon. Subalit binalewala ito ng PhilHealth Board. The people who emasculated UHC and PhilHealth should have no role in its restoration. Ang aming panawagan ngayon sa PhilHealth Board kasama mga nagdesisyon sa ilegal na paglipat ng pondo ay mag-resign silang mga pumayag sa pagnanakaw.”

At the same time, human rights violations persist, including reports of torture and ill-treatment of protesters arrested during the September 21 rally. Torture is a crime under domestic and international law. It causes long-term physical and psychological harm and erodes public trust in institutions mandated to protect, respect, and fulfill the rights of the people. Yet torture continues, revealing a dangerous pattern of state violence.

As Dr. Benito Molino reminds us:
“The perpetuation of torture thrives on impunity. Hangga’t walang pananagutan, ang tortyur ay magpaulit-ulit. Torture will always be used as a tool for political repression.”

MAG affirms that corruption is a human rights violation. It weakens governance and disproportionately harms the poor and vulnerable by denying them access to essential public services. Meanwhile, state violence that violates bodily integrity, mental health, and human dignity shows how deeply the government continues to fail in upholding the rights and welfare of its people.

MAG calls on the government to:

1. Ensure transparency and accountability in all health programs, especially in PhilHealth and DOH procurement systems;

2. Protect the right to health by ensuring that public resources are used efficiently, equitably, and free from corruption;

3. End torture and all forms of human rights violations, and ensure prompt, independent investigations into all allegations of abuse;

4. Strengthen safeguards and oversight mechanisms to prevent future violations and restore public trust.

MAG remains committed to building a people-centered, rights-respecting, and corruption-free health system, while supporting those whose rights have been violated through access to justice and physical and psychosocial services.

This International Human Rights Day, MAG reoterates that it is our duty to defend our rights, preserve human dignity, and ensure that justice reigns in the country.

Ngayong araw, ang Medical Action Group ay kaisa sa Trillion Peso March. Hindi lang ito laban para sa pondo—laban ito par...
30/11/2025

Ngayong araw, ang Medical Action Group ay kaisa sa Trillion Peso March. Hindi lang ito laban para sa pondo—laban ito para sa buhay.
Habang lumalaki ang nawawalang bilyon-bilyong pisong dapat para sa bayan, milyun-milyong Pilipino ang naghihintay din ng maayos na serbisyong pangkalusugan.

Health is a right, not a privilege.

Hindi na tayo mananahimik. Panahon na para ipaglaban ang katotohanan at pananagutan.

”

Happy weekend, Kweens! Takits bukas! 🩷
29/11/2025

Happy weekend, Kweens! Takits bukas! 🩷

During a two-day consultation on the proposed Emergency Medical Services (EMS) bill held on November 24–25, 2025, at Sot...
26/11/2025

During a two-day consultation on the proposed Emergency Medical Services (EMS) bill held on November 24–25, 2025, at Sotogrande Hotel in Davao City, Dr. Nemuel Fajutagana of the Medical Action Group (MAG) highlighted the importance of embedding a rights-based approach in the legislation. The event brought together key stakeholders, including government agencies, emergency response units, trauma specialists, LGU 911 teams, and humanitarian organizations, to discuss the challenges and opportunities in improving EMS delivery. Dr. Fajutagana emphasized that emergency services must be timely, efficient, equitable, accessible, and respectful of human dignity, noting, “Every second counts in emergency care, and our laws must reflect the principle that healthcare is a right for all, not a privilege.”

The consultation underscored the need for a coordinated, standardized framework for local EMS operations, guided by the theme “Bawat Segundo Mahalaga”, and reinforced MAG’s ongoing advocacy for policies that strengthen the country’s emergency response system and prioritize patient rights.

05/11/2025

Medical Action Group's 43rd Anniversary Statement

Title: Healing as a Form of Solidarity

As the Medical Action Group (MAG) celebrates its 43rd year of service, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to promote and defend the right to health for all.

Since its founding, MAG has been at the frontline of advancing the right to health. We have stood with victims of human rights violations and their families by providing medical and psychosocial support, documenting cases, and assisting them in their pursuit of justice. We have also continuously engaged the government to make healthcare responsive, equitable, and accessible, especially for marginalized and neglected communities.

Despite these years of hard work, the country’s health system remains in a critical state. Health inequities continue to widen, many health workers face poor working conditions and are compelled to leave the country, and public health continues to be underprioritized. These realities remind us that the struggle for the right to health is far from over and that our collective action remains essential.

In these challenging times, health professionals must take a proactive role as healers of the nation. Beyond providing medical care, we are called to speak out, to stand in solidarity with communities, and to uphold the dignity and rights of every person.

As MAG marks this important milestone, we renew our dedication to advancing health as a human right, to standing against all forms of abuse and inequality, and to building a just and compassionate health system that truly serves our people.


22/10/2025

Criminalizing the Courage: A Call to Free Nanay Sally Ujano and Protect Human Rights Defenders
Solidarity Statement of the Medical Action Group (MAG)
22 October 2025`

The Medical Action Group (MAG) stands in unwavering solidarity with Nanay Sally Ujano, a courageous woman human rights defender who has been unjustly convicted under a trumped-up charge of rebellion. Her case is a glaring example of how the Philippine justice system is being weaponized to criminalize the courage of those who dare to speak truth to power and stand up for justice, dignity, and human rights.

For decades, Nanay Sally has championed the rights of women and children, dedicating her life to peaceful, principled advocacy grounded in compassion and integrity. Her arrest and conviction are not only a miscarriage of justice, but also a direct attack on the legitimacy of human rights work in the country.

Now advanced in age and battling multiple health conditions, the impact of her detention has been devastating to her physical and mental well-being. To incarcerate an elderly woman in fragile health under baseless charges is not only cruel and inhumane is a violation of the State’s duty to protect the rights and dignity of persons deprived of liberty, especially those most vulnerable.

As a health and human rights organization, MAG strongly condemns the ongoing criminalization of human rights defenders in the Philippines. The case of Nanay Sally underscores a broader and deeply troubling pattern - criminalizing the courage of individuals who dare to defend the marginalized and challenge systemic injustice.

We call on the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Nanay Sally Ujano on humanitarian grounds. We urge human rights institutions, civil society, and the broader public to amplify the call for her freedom and to resist the erosion of democratic spaces and fundamental freedoms.

No one should be punished for defending human rights. Nanay Sally deserves justice, freedom, and the same care and compassion she has extended to countless others throughout her life.





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