Tuesday, October 17, 2006 Malig: Of Mabalacat cops and 'No deposit law' By Jun A. Malig Cognition
LET me start my column by congratulating the police force in my hometown of Mabalacat led by Superintendent Renato Soria and Senior Inspector Louie Tan, chief of the Dau community police precinct, for their quick reaction to the prompt action by a bus passenger and a traffic personnel that eventually prevented what could be another armed robbery along "North Luzon Expensiveway".
The five suspects were arrested inside an air-conditioned Victory Liner bus at the Dau Bus Station around 6 a.m. last October 11.
In an interview a few hours after the peaceful surrender of the armed suspects, Tan said a passenger who was victimized by the same suspected robbers two months ago, was able to identify one of the suspects and promptly reported the situation to a traffic aide assigned at the terminal. The information was immediately relayed to policemen who hurriedly proceeded to the terminal before the bus leaves for Manila via Nlex.
Tan identified the suspects as Manuel Cabansan, 29; Marciano Cabansan, 22; Ramon Cabansan, 23; Nonedo Barquez, 21; and Mark Anthony Pacayra, 29, all residents of Metro Manila and natives of Samar, Leyte and Tacloban provinces. They were not able to resist arrest or fight back because of the large number of heavily armed policemen that responded to the call.
Confiscated from the suspects were two caliber .45 and two caliber .9mm pistols, a fragmentation grenade, two six-inch bladed weapons and magazines and ammunitions. The suspects were charged with illegal possession of firearms at the Provincial Prosecutor's Office in the City of San Fernando. Charges of armed robbery would also be filed against them after policemen here conclude the gathering of complaints and testimonies from the victims of the group in the past months.
Tan said the modus operandi of the group was to board an air-conditioned bus, position themselves in different seats, announce the hold-up in the middle of Nlex, divest bus passengers with their cash and valuables, and alight at their predetermined escape routes.
Last September 2, Mabalacat policemen were able to corner five armed men who tried to rob the Western Union Money Transfer branch also in Dau. The timely arrival of the local policemen forced the suspects to hole themselves up inside the establishment. They eventually surrendered after taking hostage for seven hours the security guard and the employees.
Again, congratulations to the officials and members of the Mabalacat police. Of course, the bus passenger and the traffic aide that wasted no time in reporting the presence of the suspected robbers to policemen deserve equal commendation. Truly, vigilance and cooperation between the citizens and law enforcers would make a big difference in deterring crimes and in going after criminal elements.
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As a continuation of my column last Tuesday, I would like to reiterate the need to ensure the implementation of the government's policy requiring all hospitals and medical clinics to admit patients without the need for them to pay deposits that usually amounts to a few or several thousands of pesos.
Republic Act (RA) 8344, which became a law on August 25, 1997, penalizes the refusal to administer appropriate initial medical treatment and support to patients in emergency or serious cases. It amended Batas Pambansa 702 (No Deposit Law), which also prohibited the demand of deposits or advance payments for the confinement or treatment of patients in hospitals and medical clinics in certain cases.
RA 8344 states that "by reason of inadequacy of the medical capabilities of the hospital or medical clinic, the attending physician may transfer the patient to a facility where the appropriate care can be given... that such transfer shall be done only after necessary emergency treatment and support have been administered to stabilize the patient and after it has been established that such transfer entails less risks than the patient's continued confinement.
The law stresses that "no hospital or clinic, after being informed of the medical indications for such transfer, shall refuse to receive the patient or demand from the patient or his next of kin any deposit or advance payment."
Hospital officials and medical practitioners or staff found violating this law will be penalized with six months to six years imprisonment and/or will be made to pay a fine of P20,000 to P500,000.
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