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Solon wants medical scholarship program law named after slain barrio doctor


A party-list lawmaker on Thursday urged Congress to name the proposed medical scholarship and return service program law after the barrio doctor who was killed in Lanao del Norte last year.

In a statement, Kabayan party-list Representative Ciriaco Calalang suggested that the medical scholarship and return service program for students enrolled in public and private higher educational institutions be named after Dr. Dreyfuss Perlas in honor of his memory.

Perlas, then a municipal health officer of Sapad town, was shot dead in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte on March 1 last year.

A suspect, reportedly a hired gun, was killed while resisting arrest, and Calalang is urging law enforcement authorities to nab other suspects, especially mastermind.

"Considering that Mindanao is under martial law, I now ask both Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa to bring to justice whoever masterminded Dr. Perlas’ murder," Calalang said.

"Find the mastermind or masterminds and arrest them. If they resist arrest, then the military and police have their rules of engagement protocols to follow," he added.

Calalang noted that Perlas was among the best doctors of his generation, graduating from University of the Philippines Los Baños and Western Visayas State University.

"It is but proper that our grateful nation honor him in words, deeds, and in law. Dr. Perlas’ killers must be brought to justice," he said.

The proposed "Medical Scholarship and Return Service Program Act" was approved by the House of Representatives on third and final reading in November last year.Senator JV Ejercito filed a similar bill in the Senate last January.

Under the measure, at least one scholar from each municipality will be accepted in the program, but this is still dependent on the number of government doctors needed for each province or municipality as determined by the Department of Health.

Scholars of the program will receive financial assistance such as free tuition and other school fees, allowance for books, equipment, uniform and boarding house accommodations, among others. -Erwin Colcol/KBK, GMA News

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