On 4-year-old boy’s death: Couple consults Ombudsman

CEBU, Philippines - A couple who lost their four-year-old son to alleged neglect by Minglanilla District Hospital staff last month has visited the Office of the Ombusdman-Visayas.

Although they declined to divulge details of their visit, Gerard Vincent Tuballa and his wife Jenelyn earlier issued statements that they would pursue the filing of criminal complaints against the hospital.

The couple, residents of Phase 3, Deca Homes in Tungkil, Minglanilla, arrived at the Office of the Ombudsman at 9 a.m. yesterday to seek “advice.”

Their son, Jincent Kaa Arces Tuballa, died at 6 p.m. on October 7 at the Minglanilla District Hospital.

Jenelyn earlier said their son died after taking medicine prescribed by the attending doctor.

Jincent was brought to the hospital due to loose bowel movement, but the attending physician allegedly asked Jenelyn to buy Salbutamol even when the child did not undergo laboratory tests yet.

Jenelyn alleged that when the medicine was administered to their son through a nebulizer, they noticed that he started to have difficulty of breathing.

She also said that when Jincent died, the doctor abruptly left them.

Jenelyn came out in the open after she learned of what happened to one-year-old Mary Jane Bariquit, who died allegedly because of poor treatment by Minglanilla District Hospital personnel last November 6.

Jenelyn alleged that when she told the doctor she would just bring her son to a private hospital the doctor allegedly replied, “Ngano man misis naa moy down nga P30 mil aron mobalhin mo didto?”

Gerard and Jenelyn told the media they wanted justice for their son and wanted that no more children would suffer the same fate as that of Jincent.

“Sakit kaayo mawad-an og anak; usa rato namo ka anak. Pobre mi mao nagpatabang mi,” Jenelyn said.

She said they were also planning to speak with Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III regarding their case. — Mylen P. Manto/RHM (FREEMAN)