A 10-year-old boy died the other day after undergoing circumcision from a lying-in clinic in Balut, Tondo, Manila. It was later discovered that the procedure was carried out by someone posing as a doctor.
Investigation revealed that the suspect was first arrested in 2023 by the Philippine National Police –Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for using the name and license of a doctor he had worked with around 20 years ago.
The suspect was able to post bail and was set free, but his identity was not disclosed due to a manhunt operation being conducted against him.
Manila Police District (MPD) public information officer Capt. Philipp Ines said Barangay Kagawad Maria Christina Tipon of Barangay 146 revealed that the suspect had no permit to operate and was not a licensed doctor, but a midwife.
The victim’s mother, Marjorie San Agustin, told investigators that she brought her son to the clinic on May 17. He was injected with anesthesia before the procedure.
San Agustin got worried when she saw her son shaking, while screaming. When she asked the ‘doctor’ about it, she was allegedly assured that it was normal.
The mother decided to bring her son to the nearest hospital where he died and could no longer be revived.
San Agustin already filed a formal complaint before the MPD and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
NBI Director Jaime Santiago said the bureau will check the records to establish the cause of death and take it from there.