‘My heart really belongs to these communities’

‘My heart really belongs to these communities’

Interview with an illegally jailed doctor, Dr. Merry Mia Clamor:

PHOTO: TAN CANCHELA

One of the illegally detained health care workers dubbed the “Morong 43,” Dr. Merry Mia Clamor, recently spoke with The Philippine Reporter following the “Our Voices Will Not Be Silenced” event at OISE at the University of Toronto.

In February 2010, Clamor was leading a community health seminar in Morong, Rizal when she and other health workers were arrested by Filipino state troops. They were suspected of being part of the New People’s Army (NPA), which Clamor and her companions have always denied despite enduring torture and threats to their loved ones while in jail.

In May 2010, The Philippine Reporter interviewed the Morong 43 at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig, Manila. The jail visited resulted in the article, “Canadians visit Morong 43.” Following massive national and international support, the Morong 43 were released after 10 months of detention in December 2010.

The March 31, 2012 event at OISE featured speakers touring North America sharing stories of human rights abuses in the Philippines.

Q. Why did you want to get involved in community health care?

A. Even before I passed the medical board exams, I was with NGOs doing work in peasant areas. I developed a passion for working for them. Immediately after passing the boards, I went to a far-flung area in the north, serving as a community doctor for two years. I returned home and tried hospital work, but my heart really belongs to these communities. So in 2005, I joined the Community Council for Health and Development, an organization with 60 community-based health programs.

Q. Given the lack of resources, what are some challenges being a community health provider?

A. At first, it was hard because you’re used to the hospital setting. In the rural areas you don’t even have a health centre. We do the checkups and treatment of patients in houses. Some organizations will provide a space or a little room made of bamboo and make it into a health centre so that people can come.

Q. But you have to bring all your equipment with you?

A. Yes, but we only have the basics, like a stethoscope and a pen. Usually in the far areas we don’t have electricity or running water, so we can only do things like primary health checkups.

That’s why we focus on training the community health workers– the mothers, the peasants, some children, teenagers– on how to identify diseases and take care of their own health, like home remedies. These communities are usually very, very far from health institutions. So this is the best thing that we can do for them. We train them and when they’re ready we go home, monitor them, and after a while increase their capacity. We teach them sanitation. We even teach some of the young children literacy because school is so far.

Q. Tell me about your arrest and detainment.

A. Of course it was a surprise because it was early in the morning and we were just preparing for the next session. These men in uniform rushed around, pointing their guns at our heads, and told us not to ask any questions.

My husband works for human rights, so I have to learn what my rights are. I asked them, “What’s happening? What are the charges? Why are you arresting us? Who should I talk to clear this up?”

But they don’t give you a chance. They just put their guns on you and they tell you to shut up. That time, I really lost all the strength I have. What can I do? They have all the guns.

Q. I remember that when I visited you in jail, you were mostly concerned about the people that you were helping and not yourself.

A. Yes, most of my companions are really grassroots, so they’re relying on these mothers and peasants for their health care. And when we were taken away, who will take care of them? The government is not doing their job when it comes to health. In jail, we know there are people who will take care of us, but there is no one to take care of our patients. Most of our patients visited us and urged us to go back to their communities.

Q. How did it affect you when they visited you?

A. I was torn because I have patients in jail also. Because most of them don’t have a doctor, I became the doctor in jail too.

But of course I want to go out. It was also very inspiring that the people we helped visited us. And we know they were there in the streets every day to rally for us. Every event we have for the campaign, they’re present, so it touches our heart. We never failed to hope that one day soon we would be free because of these people.

Q. There was huge support for the Morong 43 in the Philippines and internationally. Why do you think that was case?

A. It was a gross case of human rights abuse following the Ampatuan Massacre. And too, instead of leaving the country to work for so-called “greener pastures,” we opted to stay. And this is what they do to those that stay? They always say to us that we are heroes, but I say, “No.” We do the work because we love the work and we see the need for us to stay.

Q. How important was the international support?

A. The international support was a big, big factor in getting us out of jail. And too, it proved that we are doing the right thing. But I think it wasn’t just the pressure that was important. It was getting people to understand what was happening and getting them to act.

Q. In your speech today, you talked about being shy. But you became a leader for the Morong 43 and now speak out against abuses internationally.

A. (Laughs.) That’s why I chose to work in the far flung communities, no cameras, no interviews. I do this because I feel responsible. I have to speak up so this won’t happen again.

Q. Are you afraid that being so visible will put you under threat again?

A. Before I was not visible, then I got arrested, so what’s the difference? People are encouraging us to tell our stories and do something for the hundreds of other political prisoners and those whose rights were violated. So no, I’m not afraid. It’s important for me to go from place to place to get people to understand and to get people to be one with us to do something about it.

*The interview was edited and condensed.