THE Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula Director Billy Beltran ordered his officers and personnel to secure the physicians working under the health department’s “doctors to the barrios” (DTTBs) program in the region.
Beltran issued the order to all provincial and city directors after the killing of a physician serving in the remote areas of Lanao del Norte.
Doctor Dreyfuss Perlas, a 31-year-old doctor to the barrios, was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen on March 1 in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte.
Department of Health Regional Director Aristides Tan said there are eight DTTBs assigned in remote areas of Zamboanga Peninsula.
Tan said they are assigned in the towns of Mutia, Godod, La Libertad, and Sergio Osmeña in Zamboanga del Norte and in the towns of Lapuyan, Guipos, Midsalip, and Tukuran in Zamboanga del Sur.
The general objective of the DTTB program is to provide the countryside with competent Medical Human Resources to render quality medical care to the people.
Beltran said they are ready to accommodate the request of the DTTBs concerning security.
Tan said they have advised the physicians working under the agency’s DTTB to seek police assistance should they came under threat while in the performance of duty. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines