Filipinos have been found selling their kidneys on the black market to make up to 200,000 pesos.
According to data from the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), one person every hour in the Philippines suffers from chronic kidney failure. While some patients may receive dialysis, severe cases may require a kidney transplant.
In the Philippines, the surgery can cost anywhere between P600,000 and P1.2 million.
Another challenge is finding a kidney donor that is a match for the patient, a process that can take years, which has led some people to look for kidneys on the black market.
Twenty-five years after Jessica Soho first reported on kidney trafficking in the Philippines, the veteran broadcast journalist speaks to new victims of this widespread problem in her special report, “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho.”
According to reports, an apartment in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, is home to Filipinos who are waiting for surgery to sell their kidneys, which will then be transplanted into others, a practice that is illegal and a form of human trafficking.
The process begins online, with interested parties joining a Facebook group to meet with agents, where kidneys can sell for up to 200,000 pesos.
One victim, known as “Kat,” has come forward to share her experience and raise awareness.
“Ayau ko na rin na mei mabikutima sila,” she said, adding that minors were also involved in the illegal trade.
[“I don’t want them to victimize anyone else.”]
“Kat” was 21 and had a family, and was £70,000 in debt. Despite working hard, she couldn't pay off her debts, so in November she looked for somewhere to sell her kidney.
“Hey Facebook, we're doing a 'kidney sale.' Donate a kidney,” she said.
[“I went on Facebook and searched for ‘kidney selling’. That’s when the group named ‘Kidney Donate’ came up.]
According to “Kat,” the group was very easy to join, and it was full of dummy accounts — people looking to sell their kidneys — and the comments section was full of accounts claiming to be “mine.”
After “Kat” commented on the post, she was contacted by someone who had previously sold a kidney for £200,000, who suggested she do the same.
Before “Kat” could donate or sell her kidney, she had to undergo clinical tests, be interviewed and live in an apartment in Bulacan with 11 other donors.
Cat met with other donors, many of whom were from Gen Z, and most of them were men.
Some donors are as young as 17, and have used the money to buy things like iPhones and motorbikes, but because only people over 23 can donate, donors lie about their age or create fake birth certificates.
The apartment complex they stay in has strict rules: they must ask permission to go out and are not allowed to go out alone. Donors are allowed to use mobile phones, but staff monitor their contacts.
Screening
According to “CAT,” donors are required to visit the NKTI every week to provide blood and urine samples and have their creatinine levels tested. This process continues until the donor is deemed healthy, and the results are sent to the intended organ recipient. Donors then undergo a series of psychological tests to assess their mental health and determine whether they were coerced into donating their organs. The final step is an interview with an ethics committee.
This rigorous screening process is intended to prevent illegal kidney trafficking. NKTI guidelines state that organ donors must be relatives or friends of the patient. Deceased donors are only allowed if they sign an organ donation waiver.
But for those who don't meet the qualifications to be legitimate donors, like “Cat,” the agents are trained to make up stories. “Cat” had to know details such as the patient's birth date, age, weight, mother's name, and date of diagnosis.
She and her agents also forged documents and photographs: “Cat” visited recipients' homes and took multiple photos to make it look like she had lived there for years.
However, “Kat's” transplant patient's condition worsened and the transplant was postponed, which resulted in “Kat” having to stay in the apartment for longer than the agreed upon two months.
During this time, “Cat” learned more about the people behind the scheme and revealed that it is an organized group. The agents involved are former donors who acted as middlemen, “Angie” and “Chu” Lumibao, who are also partners. According to “Cat”, the leader of the group is a man known as Boss A, or Allan Ligaya, who is the head nurse of the NKTI. As a financier, Ligaya is covering the expenses of the house and paying the salaries of the agents.
According to “Cat,” the group already has 20 donors, and he also learned that while donors usually receive 400,000 pesos, the remaining 200,000 goes into the pockets of the project's leaders.
“Kat” begins to consider giving up on the transplant, but when she visits Alan at the NKTI, she hears that he has died in a black body bag.
“Nakutataro kasi yong isip ko, saka yong puso ko kung tatacas ako kasi inisip ko yong anak ko,” cried “Kat.” “Bata pa nung anak ko, paano ako arlis? Sino bubuhay sa kanya? “Yong partner ko po kawawa, naawa ling po ako sa kanya.”
[“I don’t know what to do. I wanted to run away, but I kept thinking about my child. If I left, who would take care of them? I felt so sorry for my partner.”]
“Kat” eventually told her partner about her situation.
Transplantation
After waiting in the dormitory for about five months, “Kat” was rushed to a private hospital in Quezon City for surgery. The agreement was that “Kat” would donate her failing right kidney.
But when “Kat” woke up, she was in for a big surprise.
“Nung nasa recovery room, na ako, pagkapa ko sa tagililang ko, yung kariwa ang kinuha. 'Yung 80% to 90% namalaka and kidney function problems these days. 'Yung ang kinuha nila. Ang iniwan nila is 'yung 50%-60% na function. Wala na akong nagawa.”
[“In the recovery room, I found out that they had taken the kidney with 80-90% function. They left behind the weaker kidney with only 50-60% function. I couldn’t do anything about it.”]
“Kat” eventually received the promised £200,000, but in instalments, allowing her to return to her partner and children and repay her debts. But her problems didn't end there: despite being promised post-surgery check-ups, these never took place.
Save the donor
The apartment was raided by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Capital Region Task Force in mid-July, who managed to rescue nine people, including a couple with their children.
They also rescued a 20-year-old man named “Bern”, who had undergone transplant surgery the previous day and had a fresh scar on his left side. Most of the other donors were still waiting for surgery.
Vern was promised 200,000 pesos to cover his tuition fees, but only 2,000 was paid.
“Steve” was paid 50,000 pesos, which he used to buy an iPhone and pay off his debts.
Pinky, who has been recuperating for four months, was promised compensation of 250,000 pesos but was actually paid less than 100,000 pesos.
“Fer”, who underwent surgery in October last year, has chosen to stay in the apartment with his family as his partner is also waiting for a kidney transplant.
Officers also arrested “Angie” and recovered P200,000 in cash from her bag.
Angie said her main job as a surrogate is organizing donor paperwork for doctors. When she was a donor, her job was to find recipients. She said she did this to help with her children's education.
Meanwhile, Chew said he stayed behind for Angie.
The two were initially reported to the Department of Justice and then transferred to the NBI Detention Center at the Bureau of Corrections in Muntinlupa City. Following their arrest, “Kat” and other donors have received death threats.
Meanwhile, the NKTI confirmed that Ligaya was an employee of the endoscopy department but not the head nurse, but after an internal investigation, Ligaya denied all the allegations, said she had no knowledge of the suspects and was not involved in the illegal kidney transplant scheme.
The NKTI said in a press conference that Ligaya had worked as a nurse at the center for 23 years and that her department was not involved in kidney transplants, so she could not be involved in that field. The institute also transferred Ligaya to another position.
The NKTI also said it would fully cooperate with the investigation if Ligaya's involvement is proven, and if evidence emerges, it plans to file an administrative case against him apart from the NBI's complaint.
Ligaya has not made any public statements beyond what he has said so far. KMJS tried to contact him but did not receive a response.
Psychologist Randy DeRosa encourages victims of the illegal organ donation scheme to seek emotional support and talk to someone about how they're feeling. DeRosa explained that this is known as “half-person” or “half-human” syndrome, and that organ donors can feel like they're missing something important.
“Marami kayong pagdadaanang mga emotions, possible pagsisisi, pangihinayang, depression, anxiety, galit,” he said. “I ninyo kung dumadan kayo sa depression anxiety kasi melon mga taong nag-donate ng kidney tapos na-fi-feel nila parang may klang na sa kanila. Isan moral support, ay makahanap kayong makakausap para ma share ang damdamin niño,” he added.
[“These victims are likely to experience a range of emotions, including regret, depression, anxiety, or even anger. It is important for them to be vigilant for signs of depression or anxiety, as some individuals who have donated a kidney may feel as though something essential is missing. It would be helpful for them to find someone they can talk to and share their feelings with.”] —JCB, GMA merger news
