Dear  Mr.  President  Benigno  Aquino  III  

 
 
The   International   Federation   of   Medical   Students   Association   of   Brazil   (IFMSA-­‐Brazil),   as   a  
representative   of   the   International   Federation   of   Medical   Students   Association   (IFMSA)   in  
this  nation,  which  speaks  on  behalf  of  more  than  five  hundred  medical  students,  requires  the  
release  of  43  health  workers  in  Morong,  that  have  been  detained  in  Camp  Capinpin  in  Tanay,  
Rizal,   without   respect   to   their   legal   rights   and   under   torture.  
 
Medical   doctors,   nurses,   and   community   health   workers,   who   had   already   worked  
within   several   communities   in   Far-­‐Flung   provinces   of   Philippines   as   well   as   Morong,  
were   attending   a   training   organized   by   the   Community   Medicine   Foundation.   The   health  
workers  were  only  helping  people  and  providing  them  a  bit  of  dignity.  On  February  6th  2010,  
though,  the  Armed  Forces  of  the  Philippines  have  had  them  handcuffed,  blindfolded  and  held  
in   isolation   for   days,   without   even   considering   their   legal   and   human   rights.  

International  Federation  of  Medical  Students  Associations  of  Brazil  

Alameda  Santos,  n.º  1.800,  8º  andar,  CJ  8032,  Bairro  Cerqueira  César,  São  Paulo/SP  
 CEP:  01418200|  Tel.+  55  11  3170-­‐3251|  presidente@ifmsabrazil.org  
www.ifmsabrazil.org  |  CNPJ  02300156/0001-­‐13  
 
As   the   days   followed,   representatives   from   the   government’s   Commission   on  
Human   Rights   were   even   denied   entry   to   the   camp   where   the   detainees   were   kept  
the  following  day.  The  refusal  to  honor  the  order  of  the  Supreme  Court  is  an  absurd,  as  well  
as   a   classic   manifestation   of   impunity   that   no   human   being   should   suffer.  
 
“The   only   weapon   that   a   health   worker   carries   with   him   in   the   so-­‐called   battlefield  
is   the   stethoscope   for   the   doctor,   the   sphygmomanometer   for   the   nurses   and   the  
cotton   balls   for   the   other   community   health   workers,   and   their   only   common   enemy  
is   the   disease   that   threatens   the   community,”   said   Dr.   Bu   C.   Castro,   spokesman  
of   the   Philippine   Medical   Association   and   president   of   the   Alliance   of   All   Health  
Organizations   of   the   Nation,   statement   that,   we,   Brazilian   medical   students   here  
represented   by   IFMSA-­‐Brazil,   truly   believe   and   pursuit   as   a   goal   for   our   medical  
careers.   This   is   our   strong   statement.  
 
We   believe   in   the   proficiency   of   Aquino   Government,   its   righteousness   and   political  
power   based   on   social   peace   promotion,   and   caring   for   the   majority   well   being   of   your  
Philippines   people.  
 
Moreover,   aware   of   Philippines'   government   subscription   under   The   Universal  
Declaration  of  Human  Rights,  we  expect  urgent  measures  and  vigorous  actions  over  on  the  
release   of   43   health   workers.  
 
 
 
 
Sincerely,  
 
 
 

                                             
 
_____________________________                                                                                              __________________________  
Caio  Augusto  Prearo  Pelosi                                                                                                                              Cinthia  Jaqueline  Baia  de  Souza  
President  of  IFMSA  Brazil                                                      National  Officer  on  Human  Rights  and  Peace  -­‐  IFMSA  Brazil  
2010-­‐2011                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2010-­‐2011