CEBU CITY, Philippines – The management of the Lapu-Lapu City Hospital is now under investigation after Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza instructed the City Legal Office to look into the government-run facility following a social media post made by a political opponent.
The investigation was sparked by a video of Cesar Siaton, who had a gunshot wound to the stomach, but had to wait to be transferred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center because the ambulance did not have a driver.
Siaton is one of the campaign leaders of Pajo barangay Captain and mayoralty aspirant Junard “Ahong” Chan.
He was shot in the stomach by a lone motorcycle-riding gunman late evening of April 27, a few minutes after Chan’s party concluded their campaign sortie in Barangay Babag.
READ Campaign leader of Lapu mayoral candidate shot after barangay sortie
Chan, earlier posted a video of Siaton on Facebook, which shows the wounded person lying on a hospital bed, groaning in pain.
“Usa sa akong leader sa Team Ahong, Team Libre gipusil sa dihang nagpahigayon kami og pulongpulong sa barangay Babag. Ang nakapait kay pagdala nato sa Lapulapu City Hospital ni advise ang doctor nga ipadala sa Vicente Sotto apan walay driver atong ambulasya. Kapait aning ospitala,” the caption reads.
(One of my leaders in Team Ahong, Team Libre was shot when we had our campaign sortie in Barangay Babag. It was unfortunate that when we brought him to the Lapu-Lapu City Hospital, the doctor advised that he should be transferred to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center. But the ambulance does not have a driver. How unfortunate this hospital is!)
Siaton was later transferred to VSMMC, after Chan insisted and offered his driver to drive the ambulance.
Chan announced on Tuesday morning, April 30, that Siaton already passed away.
Radaza said the hospital has two drivers, but one of them got sick while the other one has already ended his shift.
Radaza said that she will wait for the recommendation of the City Legal Office before she decides on what sanctions to impose on the hospital management. Radaza said she already talked to the hospital chief, who said that he will take full responsibility for what happened.
She said the hospital can only cater to minor operations. Serious cases, such as gunshot wounds, are referred to bigger hospitals. / celr