Botanist’s case not isolated, says health group

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 20:05:00 11/21/2010

BAGUIO CITY—The Community Health Education, Services and Training in the Cordillera Region (Chestcore) said the death of botanist Leonardo Co, who was killed in a supposed crossfire between government troops and communist rebels in a Leyte forest on Nov. 15 was not an isolated case.

Chestcore, in a statement, said many health professionals working in remote communities have been accused of aiding or being members of the New People’s Army or the Communist Party of the Philippines.

“Instead of being lauded as heroes for choosing to devote their lives to community service and for opting to give up opportunities for career advancement abroad or in private practice, many of them have been harassed, arrested on false pretenses and even killed,” it said.

Co was a staff member of Chestcore in the 1980s. His work in the Cordilleras involved helping communities systematize the knowledge of traditional healers about medicinal plants for their own primary health care.

“It is unfortunate that [Co’s] ... service to the people was suddenly cut short by a few minutes of gunfire. We strongly condemn the killing of [Co] and two of his [companions] in the hands of the [military]. We demand that justice be served and those responsible not be allowed to hide behind the guise that [Co] and his companions were ‘caught in [a] crossfire,’” the group said.

As a former staff member of the Baguio City-based Chestcore Co since 1981 had helped list 122 medicinal plants in the region with their scientific and common names.

Co updated his list and in 1989, in collaboration with the Chestcore, published the book, “Common Medicinal Plants in the Cordillera Region: A Trainor’s Manual for Community-Based Health Programs.” The book was primarily designed to help communities tap their traditional medicinal plants to treat some common diseases without relying too much on prescription drugs, which are not readily available.

Chestcore said, aside from Co, many health professionals have been abused and harassed because of “red tagging.”

It cited as examples the killing of Dr. Bobby de la Paz in Samar and Dr. Juan “Johnny” Escandor in Bicol, the attempted assassination of Dr. Chandu Claver in Kalinga and the continued detention of the 43 health workers arrested in Morong, Rizal, early this year.

Co, his former colleagues said, practiced “science ... for the people.”

“He patiently interviewed elders and traditional healers, learning local culture and traditions. Drawing on his knowledge and skills, he recorded and systematized the people’s collective knowledge and practice on medicinal plants.

He did not use this body of work for his personal career or economic advancement but offered it back for the communities’ benefit and use,” Chestcore said.

Co, it said, helped build community-based health programs among indigenous communities in Mt. Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Abra and Kalinga. He travelled through dangerous mountain terrain to reach and serve remote communities that seemed to have been neglected by government, the group said. Desiree Caluza, Inquirer Northern Luzon