Hospital guard faces plaint for "pointing" gun at American

CEBU, Philippines -  An American national has complained to the police against a security guard of a hospital who allegedly threatened him with a firearm after the former asked permission to go home and get money to pay for the hospital bills of a child he bumped on the street.

Jarrel Cyntell Williams, a 33-year-old native of Louisiana, who currently lives in Dapdap, Liloan complained to the police of a grave threat incident against Security Guard Ramon dela Pedra of Mendero Medical Center at Pitogo, Consolacion last Thursday.

Williams was accompanied by his friend, Senevice Porter.

 Senior Police Officer 2 Aldin Abayabay, desk officer of Consolacion Police Station, said that they received a call from the hospital staff about a foreigner who reportedly went wild and did not pay his hospital bill.

 Porter, who narrated the incident to the police, said that they were driving a motorcycle in Liloan around 4 p.m. when they accidently hit a boy who crossed the street.

 They brought the boy to the Mendero Medical Center for treatment.

 Porter shared that it was about 8:30 p.m. when the billing section personnel informed Williams that he had to pay P2,500 for the treatment.

Porter told police that since Williams did not have enough money to pay for the bill, he asked permission from Dela Pedra to go home and get some money.

Porter said that the guard reportedly did not allow Williams to go.

He added that Williams asked for his assistance but Dela Pedra pulled out his service firearm, pointed it to them and told them "you must pay the bill or I will shoot you."

Abayabay said that Porter got his camera and tried to take a picture of Dela Pedra holding the gun but the guard immediately put back the firearm to his holster and walked away.

 Minutes after the incident, the police arrived in the area and accompanied Williams to the station for documentation of the complaint.

As of press time, police are still conducting a follow-up investigation on the reported incident. They are also waiting for Williams to file a case against Dela Pedra. (FREEMAN)