Ailing coach slips into coma; probe up

GENERAL SANTOS City - The ailing lawn tennis head coach of Camarines Norte who missed an emergency airlift to Manila Sunday morning when the management of a private hospital where he was brought refused to release him due to his medical bills, is now in coma.

Samuel Baylon, who suffered a cardiac arrest Saturday night, went into coma Sunday night at the General Santos City Doctor's Hospital which is reportedly being run by a religious order.

He was to take another flight to Manila yesterday morning but the plan was aborted due to his deteriorating condition.

This developed as Interior and Local Government Secretary Alfredo Lim ordered local authorities here to immediately look into the matter.

He particularly directed City Police Director Supt. Conrado Laza to conduct a probe on the incident, specifically on the alleged "shabby" treatment the patient was given by hospital staff.

The hospital reportedly refused to release Baylon, who was to be airlifted to Manila on Sunday, after members and officials of the Camarines Norte delegation failed to raise enough money for his bills that reached P23,800.

Baylon suffered a heart attack during an acquaintance party for participating contingents after the inaugurals of the Palaro ng Bayan (PnB) here Saturday night and was brought to the hospital in critical condition.

His colleagues immediately arranged with PnB officials for his airlifting to Manila onboard a C-130 Philippine Air Force plane Sunday morning.

But former PSC commissioner Mario Raymundo, Lim's special assistant, said Baylon failed to make it to the flight due to the delay in his release from the hospital.

He said hospital personnel refused to release Baylon even as Lim promised to pay the bills.