Text by Brian Floyd Andrewmer B. Albitos

Photo by Angelou C. Mendoza

From left: UPM-CAS Department of Behavioral Sciences Faculty Prof. Laufred I. Hernandez,  Prof. Marilyn E. Crisostomo, and Dr. Ma. Teresa G. de Guzman; UP Manila ICRC Collaboration Coordinator Prof. Calvin S. de los Reyes; UPM-CAS Department of Social Sciences Faculty Dr. Reynaldo H. Imperial; UPM-CAS Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Prof. Julius Andrew Nuñez; UPM Chancellor  Michael L. Tee; ICRC Delegation Head in the Philippines Johannes Bruwer; ICRC Detention Doctor Shpend Rizvanolli; ICRC Health Coordinator Pamela Muldong, ICRC Health Field Officers Marianne Legaspi and Faye Margaret Lagrimas; ICRC Health in Detention Consultant Ms. Malou De Asis; ICRC Health Field Officer Mr. John Erickson Balingit; and (standing at the back in red) ICRC Health Program Responsible Mr. Harry Tubangi. 

The University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on August 7, 2024, at the UP Manila Board Room, marking a significant step towards strengthening humanitarian efforts and academic collaboration in all pertinent areas of health in detention settings.

The MOU, signed by UPM Chancellor Michael L. Tee, UPM College of Arts and Sciences (UPM-CAS) Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Dr. Julius Andrew Nuñez, ICRC Philippines Delegation Head Johaness Bruwer, and ICRC Detention Doctor Dr. Shpend Rizvanolli, aims to enhance joint efforts in health education, particularly in the field of health in detention, through professional training, research collaboration, and academic program development. This partnership also marked the establishment of a formal collaboration between UP Manila and ICRC, coinciding with the 4th Health in Detention Course, held from August 12 to 16, 2024 at the National Teacher Training Center for the Health Professions (NTTCHP) Auditorium. 

UPM Chancellor Michael L. Tee and ICRC Delegation Head in the Philippines Johannes Bruwer shook hands following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding to enhance collaboration in health in detention. 

Mr. Johaness Bruwer expressed his hope for UPM leading the establishment of a formal health in detention course program in the country. “UP now boasts a growing pool of detention health professionals, and we must capitalize on this strength. We foresee the state university [UPM] not only spearheading health in detention training and education for the Philippines but also for the entire Asia Pacific region,” he stated. 

Chancellor Tee emphasized how this partnership aligns with the university’s vision of creating a forensic medical institute and improving care for Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL). “In the first several autopsies that we have done, what surprised our forensic specialist was the number of cases who had stage 4 cancer, sepsis, and disseminated tuberculosis. These are preventable diseases. And this tells us that their right to health has been violated. By depriving them of their ability to seek proper care, we have harmed them by neglect,” he said. 

Also in attendance during the ceremony were faculty members from the Department of Social Sciences (DSS) and the Department of Behavioral Sciences (DBS) of the UPM-CAS, along with representatives from the ICRC Delegation in the Philippines.