Tuesday, May 13, 2008 Clinical instructor faces investigators
THE clinical instructor earlier subpoenaed in relation to the taking of video of the procedure performed on Genaro Jorolan answered questions at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday.
Ramon Pandaan of University of Southern Philippines was expected Friday last week but missed supervising agent Palmer Mallari of NBI’s Computer Crimes Division who had already left for Manila.
Mallari was in Cebu last week for the interview but Pandaan was in Tuburan.
The two still got to talk over the phone, said lawyer Ernesto Macabare, NBI head agent and executive officer.
Macabare said Pandaan was instructed to submit a formal statement detailing what actually happened at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) operating room during the operation to remove a can of body spray from the patient’s rectum.
Macabare also clarified that Pandaan is not a suspect, contrary to reports (not in Sun.Star Cebu).
“He is just being asked some questions to help in the investigation,” Maca-bare said.
While Pandaan is one of the 14 persons the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas is formally investigating for grave misconduct, Macabare said NBI’s investigation is over another matter.
He said the investigation aims to determine who uploaded the video of the procedure on Youtube.com.
The ombudsman investigation, in turn, delves solely on whether or not the video taking was with the patient’s consent and on the actuation of the medical professionals during the operation itself.
In a final evaluation report (FER) released last May 5, the fact-finding bureau of the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas moved to have Pandaan and 13 others formally investigated.
Injury
Among other findings, the anti-graft office cited the 14 for causing undue injury, which is punishable under Sec. 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 or Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Twelve of the 14 individuals are directly connected with the hospital and are also being cited for administrative investigation for grave misconduct.
They will be investigated for possible misconduct, which is penalized under Republic Act 6713, the Code of Conduct for Public Officials and Employees.
The respondents are identified in the eight-page FER that Associate Graft Investigator Elmer Gutierrez prepared. The report was approved by Assistant Ombudsman Virginia Palanca-Santiago yesterday.
Entry
“The doctors and nurses above-mentioned failed to control the entry of people inside the OR (Operating Room),” read the FER.
It cited the doctors and nurses for failing to stop the students and others in using cameras and cell phones inside a place where sanitation should have been strictly observed.
Impleaded for criminal investigation are Drs. Philipps Leo Arias, the surgeon in charge; Marlowe Parreno, consultant of the Department of Surgery; Angelo Linawagan, assistant surgeon; and Joseph Alfred de Leon, the one assigned to document the procedure.
Also included are Drs. Joanne Mae Merilles, resident anesthesiologist; Serapio Salazar, consultant of the Department of Anesthesiology; and Max Joseph Montecillo, of the Department of Surgery.
The nurses, in turn, are Isabelita Remulta, operating room nurse supervisor; Circulating Nurse Carmenia Sapio, OR Nurse Supervisor Consuelo Tecling; nurse on call, Ida Sumayang; and Nursing Attendant Rosema-rie Villareal.
The clinical instructors, meanwhile, are a certain A. Oplado and Pandaan. (KNR)
