‘Tuli’ tragedy sparked by ‘fake’ doctor

A barangay official said Wednesday that the individual who performed the “fatal” circumcision on a 10-year-old boy at a lying-in clinic in Tondo, Manila was not a registered doctor.

Barangay 146 Councilor Maria Christina Tipon stated that the suspect had no permit to operate the clinic.

“There was no request so what we know is she is not operating. What we know is that she is a licensed midwife but not a doctor,” Tipon said, as she urged the public to be vigilant in checking the credentials of medical practitioners.

“They should be vigilant whether these doctors are registered or not. There are many hospitals that they can go to,” she added.

Reports said that the suspect had been arrested in 2023 by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for allegedly using the name and license number of a legitimate doctor she had worked with over 20 years prior.

However, she was released on bail.

Marjorie San Agustin, the boy’s mother, recounted bringing her son Nathan to the clinic around 2 p.m. on 17 May. Before the procedure, her son was reportedly administered 20cc of anesthesia by clinic staff.

“He said he couldn’t feel anything anymore. I saw my son shivering,” San Agustin said in Filipino.

She said she asked the person who performed the procedure if this was normal, expressing her fear. “The doctor said it was normal because he was groggy. Then he started shaking and shouting,” she recounted. “Yes, his eyes were open, but he was already spaced out.”

Nathan was rushed to a nearby hospital but could not be revived.