Child of VSMMC director part of canister scandal?

Basak-Pardo barangay captain Dave Tumulak received a letter which alleged that the reason why the officials of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center refused to reveal the names of those involved in the canister scandal is because a child of hospital director Gerardo Aquino was also among the medical personnel present during the January 3 operation.

Tumulak, who is helping the gay florist in the canister scandal, yesterday said he received a letter sent through courier with VSMMC OR (Operating Room) as the sender.

He said he will present the letter today to Aquino and the other officials.

Aquino was unavailable for comment yesterday.

No less than Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque made into public last week the names of the three doctors and two nurses recommended to face administrative charges.

They are Dr. Philips Leo Arias, the head surgeon; Dr. Angelo Linawagan, the assistant surgeon; Dr. Max Joseph Montecillo, another surgeon; Rosemarie Villareal, nursing attendant; and circulating nurse Carmina Sapio.

Just last Tuesday, the names of four more medical workers who were among those purportedly involved in the canister scandal were exposed by the DOH.

These include consultant Dr. Marlowe Parreño, operating room nurse supervisor Isabelita Remulta, senior operating nurse Consuelo Tecling, and senior operating nurse on-call Ida Sumayang.

DOH-7 officer in charge Dr. Elaine Teleron said the explanations of the persons involved will become the basis of a formal investigation to be conducted by DOH-Manila.

Its resolution will be handed down at the regional level, this time for implementation.

The National Bureau of Investigation also assured they would immediately release the results of their own inquiry as requested by the officials of VSMMC last Monday to identify the person responsible for the uploading of the operation procedure on the YouTube, a video-sharing network on the worldwide Web. — Ferliza C. Contratista/MEEV