Hospital chief sacked for grave misconduct

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – The chief of the provincial hospital of Negros Occidental was dismissed from the service by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. for grave misconduct she allegedly committed in 2005.

The governor, in his 11-page decision dated last October 10, found Dr. Ma. Estrella Ledesma, chief of the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TLJPH) in Silay City, guilty of the offense.

Taking into cognizance, however, of the length of service rendered by Ledesma to the province for more than 29 years—considered as a mitigating circumstance—the dismissal will be without forfeiture of benefits, said Marañon in his decision.

Ledesma reacted by saying the governor’s decision was unjust, and that the offense she was cited for was not work-related thus she could not be cited to grave misconduct.

"I will file a motion for reconsideration (for reversal of the decision) and I hope justice will prevail in the end," Ledesma said, adding that in her years in government service, she never had a record or complaint filed against her.

Ledesma was administratively charged with grave misconduct over a complaint filed by hospital employee Gemma Sagansay about an incident, on 1 July 2005, involving the latter’s son at the said hospital, which was at the time known as Dr. Jose C. Locsin Memorial Provincial Hospital.

Last August 15, Marañon placed Ledesma under preventive suspension while the complaint against her was being heard by the Provincial Legal Office.

Sagansay said in her complaint-affidavit that on July 1, 2005 she brought her 2-year-old son to the hospital because she had no helper (to watch over him).

It was alleged that Sagansay’s son was “chastised, spanked, pulled, pushed and placed in the comfort room” due to his “biting, boxing, kicking and screaming.” As a result, her son developed a fever when he went home and had nightmares that led to his being hospitalized on advice of his pediatrician, said the complainant.

Marañon, in his decision, said the centerpiece of the prosecution’s case for grave misconduct against Ledesma is Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

Under this law, there are no justifying circumstances for anyone who hurts a child, and absence of wrongful intention is not a justifying reason for Ledesma to evade administrative liability, the governor said.