Agbayani’s kin want doctor remembered as man of principle

MANILA, Philippines — The family of the late orthopedic surgeon Dr. Benigno Agbayani Jr. is hoping people would remember him as a man of principle who dedicated his life in service to the medical profession.

It is the memory that they would prefer Agbayani be known for after he died behind bars while fighting his criminal conviction in a civil suit for alleged reckless imprudence resulting in serious physical injuries.

Agbayani, known to his family, friends and colleagues as Iggy, died of a heart attack on Oct. 5 while incarcerated at the Manila City Jail. He was 58.

Speaking on behalf of their family, Agbayani’s sister, Bing Bing, maintained he was innocent of the allegations.

“He was a man of service and principle,” she said in an interview yesterday.

Nearly a hundred people joined Agbayani’s family as his cremated remains were interred at the Garden of the Divine Word in Quezon City yesterday afternoon.

The inurnment service was preceded by a mass attended by Agbayani’s widow Angela, their daughter Gabby, his siblings, other relatives and friends.

Agbayani’s death raised concerns from doctors, with one group claiming in a Change.org petition that he was wrongfully accused of malpractice after a patient complained of post-operative site infection.

The petition was addressed to the Judicial Integrity Board under the Supreme Court over a civil case filed in 2006 by a patient against Agbayani.

Agbayani was arrested on May 25. He was sentenced to serve one year and a day in prison but Bing Bing said he was supposed to be freed from detention last Nov. 15 due to his good conduct while in jail.

For Bing Bing, Agbayani was a good citizen and he was intent on proving his innocence, the reason he opted to stay in jail instead of seeking a pardon as it would have required an admission of guilt.

She said Agbayani trusted the legal system and believed it would protect him because he was innocent.

“He wanted to clear himself so he decided to stay,” she said.

She said tributes from Agbayani’s patients over the years gave them comfort as they knew he was dedicated to his work as a physician.