The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday called for stricter hospital security measures following two recent cases of newborn abduction in Manila and Marikina City.
Speaking at a press conference at the Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center (ARMMC) in Marikina, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said the agency is considering protocols similar to the United States’ Amber and Silver alert systems to help quickly locate missing patients.
“We will be starting these protocols. Similar protocol, pag may batang nawala, pag may elderly nawala, acute patient,” he said.
Herbosa explained that while systems such as patient and newborn tagging are already in place, some individuals may have taken advantage of looser security and a skeletal workforce during the holiday season.
“All babies have a tag, all patients have a tag. There is a system in place pero may masasamang tao talaga. Even in the US, mayroon silang amber alert kasi ninanakawan din sila ng bata,” he said.
He added that heightened vigilance is needed during the holidays.
“Because it’s the time of the year, [people] are physically present but mentally absent because of the holiday season… This is the time mangyayari ang salisi-salisi. We will heighten our measures in the protection,” Herbosa said.
Among the measures being considered are stricter entry and exit controls in hospitals and tighter enforcement of ID requirements. Herbosa also urged private and local government hospitals to increase vigilance.
“The rest of the hospitals, the private hospitals, the LGU hospitals… I’m hoping mag-increase din sila ng vigilance nila [against abductions],” he said.
The move follows the abduction of a newborn from ARMMC on December 26 at around 11 p.m.