Villarimo's friends: No politics in call for justice

CEBU, Philippines - Friends and relatives of the late Argao Tourism Officer Theodore “Ted” Villarimo yesterday said politics has nothing to do with their move for the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate and penalize those public officials responsible for the poor delivery of health services in district hospitals.

The Ombudsman has already docketed a fact-finding investigation into Villarimo’s death. Villarimo died in the ambulance while in transit to Cebu City because of the alleged failure of the Kintanar Memorial Medical Center to assign a nurse to accompany his transfer.

Villarimo’s friends said yesterday they will also file a formal complaint with the Ombudsman in relation to the incident, but clarified that their move does not in any way involve politics. 

They also said the move is not even intended mainly to go after erring public officials and personnel, but to pressure the provincial government to improve the delivery of basic services, especially on health, to Cebuanos.

For its part, Capitol consultant Rory Jon Sepulveda said a fact-finding investigation is now being undertaken on the incident. He said assessment would be made after all the personnel concerned shall have submitted their reports.

Sepulveda, however, said nurses and doctors on duty assigned at the district hospital should be in the ambulance when transporting patients to Cebu City.

In a press conference yesterday, Villarimo’s supporters also expressed resentment against the statement of Sepulveda, which came out in a local daily last Monday.

Karla Kintanar Fernandez, one of Villarimo’s closest friends, said Sepulveda maliciously implied in his statement that the publication of the issue was politically motivated to destroy the reputation of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, especially during this election season.

“This has nothing to do with politics. Sakit for all of us nga giingnan mi nga kay hunting season karon that’s why we’re bringing the issue. Sakit nga namatyan mi’g suod nga amigo. Maayo pa’g ni-sympathize siya namo and say nga iyang gipaimbestigahan. Please, dili lang unta mi insultuhon ni Atty. Rori Jon,” Fernandez said.

She clarified further that they do are not supporting any political figure who is running against Garcia because most of Villarimo’s friends and relatives are voters in Cebu City.

“It is only unfortunate that this happened during election season,” Fernandez said.

“Ted is such a very good person and public servant that even in his death, nakakita sya’g way to be a catalyst of change. We are here to call the attention of the provincial government to stop neglecting the needs of the people of Cebu,” Fernandez added.

They said what they want the province to do is to stop outsourcing medical personnel to run the district hospitals because this has allegedly influenced the incompetence of nurses and doctors working in government.

“We want them to get the benefits that they deserve. We understand that because they are poorly compensated, their enthusiasm to work may no longer be there,” Fernandez said.

Medical personnel at the Isidro Kintanar District Hospital admitted they are discouraged from accompanying patients on board an ambulance when being transported to the city because they are reportedly not covered by an accident insurance.

Most of the medical personnel at the Isidro Kintanar District Hospital are outsourced by the province from Powerline Recruitment Agency owned by the family of Glenn Soco, Garcia’s runningmate.

Lawyer Philip Landicho, also Villarimo’s close friend, said that they want a review of the contracts of Powerline agency and the province to see if the provisions are being implemented accordingly.

“Based on what happened to Ted, as we see it, the scheme of outsourcing medical personnel has degraded the delivery of health services in the province.

Villarimo’s friends also appealed to the provincial government to provide adequate funds for the maintenance of districts hospitals including additional budget for medicines and budget for gas for the ambulance among others.

They lamented that before Villarimo was able to use the ambulance, they had to pay P900 and they had to call the driver of the ambulance themselves who was not on stand by at the hospital at the time. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja and Sheila Marie E. Catacutan, NORSU Intern/JMO(FREEMAN NEWS)