Leader of group behind organ trafficking in Bulacan still at large — NBI

The alleged leader of a group involved in kidney trafficking in Bulacan remains at large, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Tuesday.

In a statement, the NBI said the suspected leader is allegedly a head nurse at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI).

“At large subject...is the leader and a head nurse at the NKTI,” the NBI said.

The suspect was among the personnel listed under the NKTI’s 2023 Citizen’s Charter, which was posted in November 2023.

GMA News Online reached out to the NKTI for comment but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.

On Monday, the Justice Department announced that authorities arrested three individuals in San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan on July 11.

The NBI said the suspects offered P200,000 to the victims for the transfer of the kidney to a paying client.

“Victims identified the three as the group that processes their kidney transfer. According to the victims, (the suspects) are the ones who maintain and harbor them for the purpose of their kidney organs being transferred for a fee,” the NBI said.

The victims were turned over to the custody of the City Social Welfare and Development Office at San Jose Del Monte. 

Meanwhile, the three arrested individuals were presented for inquest proceedings for violation of Section 4(h) of the Expanded Anti-Human Trafficking Act.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago said that if found guilty, they may be fined from P1 million to P2 million and may be sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment.—AOL, GMA Integrated News