“ABI nako dili nako mabuhi human ko madunggabi (I thought I would not survive after being stabbed),” said Jonathan Flordelis, security guard of a government hospital in Cebu City.
On January 12, 2015, Flordelis was requested by a fellow security guard to relieve his place at the psychiatric ward as he was going to take his coffee break.
While closing the door of the ward, Flordelis felt as if somebody punched him hardly at the back that caused him to just hold on the railing of the ward as he was slowly losing his strength in his lower extremities.
When seen by his co-workers, he was rushed to the emergency room and was told to just relax. Unaware of what’s going on, Flordelis texted his wife to come to the hospital.
It was later known that a father of one of the confined patients at the psychiatric ward was so depressed after seeing the situation of his son coupled by the fact that he has no money to finance his son’s medication. The suspect suffered from an emotional breakdown that caused him to stab Flordelis.
Flordelis suffered incomplete spinal cord injury secondary to stab wound. He underwent 40 sessions of physical therapy at the Sacred Heart Hospital, a partner hospital of the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) in Region 7.
After receiving his therapies, ECC granted him with an assistive device to speed up his recovery. He will continue with his rehabilitation as recommended by the attending psychiatrist.
“ECC will always be here to support our persons with work-related disabilities (PWRDs) in their rehabilitation needs through our Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang may Kapansanan (KaGabay) Program,” said ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis.
Flordelis also received P10,000 worth of livelihood assistance from the ECC after attending a free entrepreneurial training sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry.
Those who want to know more about the Employees’ Compensation Program may e-mail ECC at ecc.ipad2012@gmail.com or call 899-4251 local 227 for free on-site seminars.