Lawyer hits Manila hospital for defying closure order

MANILA, Philippines - A private hospital is defying a government closure order and has allegedly resorted to bribery to get clearances and permits, a lawyer said yesterday.

Bonifacio Militar, in an open letter to Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, said Perpetual Help Hospital was ordered shut down by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) on Oct. 13, 2011 for failing to comply with the building code for hospitals – it has no fire exit ramp required of every hospital and no water sprinklers.

“In the event of fire, the patients confined will surely die as they have no accessible, immediate and fast exit to safety outside the building,” Militar said.

He also said the hospital was reportedly granted a mayor’s permit even without a fire safety inspection certificate issued by the BFP. Some people claim hospital officials allegedly bribed personnel in the mayor’s office to get clearances and a mayor’s permit, Militar said.