Negros Occidental Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Alberto Nellas Jr. Yesterday, June 39, said that they have established a basis on complaints filed against three doctors and two medical personnel assigned at the provincial government-run hospitals that warrants an investigation.

Nellas, however, refused to divulge their recommendation on the complaints for grave misconduct filed against the respondents, saying that they already forwarded the outcome of their preliminary investigation to the Investigation Committee on Public Health Workers of the Provincial Health Office (PHO).

The committee, chaired by Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, will deal with the complaints for appropriate action.

The two doctors assigned at the Isabela District Hospital have been accused of maltreatment, while another doctor and two medical staff personnel at a government hospital in La Carlota City were also alleged to have been involved in corruption.

Nellas did not name the respondents.

It will now be decided by the committee of Tumimbang, which is composed of immediate supervisors of the respondents and representatives of concerned local government units, to assess their recommendation, or change it.

The outcome will be sent to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson for evaluation and action, he added.

The complaints against the respondents have reached to the attention of the Department of Health, who forwarded it to the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental for an investigation.

Based on allegations, it appears that there is a basis for complaints filed against them, to go on with the investigations, Nellas said.

Grave misconduct is punishable by dismissal from the government service and forfeiture of benefits, which are explicitly stated in the Civil Service Commission rules, he added.

Nellas further said that Lacson will have the final say on recommendations made by the investigation committee.*