Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro is questioning whether Byron Garcia received "VIP treatment" after his June 11, 2026, arrest, noting his rapid transfer from police detention to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.
Baricuatro is seeking explanations from hospital and health officials regarding the transfer, citing concerns that standard electronic referral protocols were bypassed while ordinary patients face significant delays for hospital admission.
Garcia denied receiving special treatment, stating his hospitalization was a result of police maltreatment and severe medical conditions, and he plans to file charges regarding his detention through the Commission on Human Rights.
CEBU Governor Pamela Baricuatro is demanding answers over what she calls "special treatment" given to former Capitol consultant Byron Garcia. Following his arrest on June 11, 2026, Garcia was transferred from police detention to a major government hospital in less than an hour, sparking public outrage over unequal healthcare access.
Governor Baricuatro expressed deep frustration that influential figures seem to skip the long lines at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), while ordinary citizens with life-threatening emergencies face massive delays.
During a press conference on Wednesday, June 17, Governor Baricuatro pointed out that police and medical records show Garcia’s transfer from the Talisay Police Station to VSMMC took less than 60 minutes. The quick transfer was reportedly granted because Garcia complained of a severe headache.
The governor noted that regular patients, even those suffering from severe conditions like brain bleeds, struggle for weeks or even months to get a bed at the hospital.
“I also questioned why he was able to get admitted there in less than an hour, when our patients who already have brain bleeds find it very difficult to get admitted,” Baricuatro said.
When asked if the proper protocols were bypassed to favor an influential figure, the governor confirmed her suspicions with a sharp remark.
“I guess they also cater to VIP, naay laing meaning sa VIP, very irritating person,” Baricuatro said.
The rapid transfer has raised questions about whether officials followed Central Visayas’ electronic referral (e-referral) system. This digital system is designed to track patient transfers fairly, ensure communication between hospitals, and prioritize patients based on how sick they are.
The governor called the quick turnaround surprising and urged the media to demand explanations from VSMMC Medical Center Chief Dr. Gerardo Aquino. She also plans to take the matter to the Department of Health (DOH), which runs the facility. Baricuatro mentioned she has tried texting Dr. Aquino directly but has received no response.
Byron Garcia posted bail on Saturday, June 13, for charges involving gender-based online sexual harassment. Following his release, he used a series of public Facebook posts to share his timeline of the events and strongly denied receiving special treatment.
According to Garcia, his hospital stay was caused by terrible detention conditions:
Friday, June 12: Garcia claimed that orders from "higher authorities" forced him into a tiny, overcrowded cell, causing a medical emergency. He was rushed to the Cebu South Medical Center at 4:30 p.m. before being moved to VSMMC.
Sunday, June 14: Garcia shared a photo of his continuous glucose monitoring graph, showing his blood sugar spiked to a dangerous 17.9 mmol/L due to stress.
Monday, June 15: Upon being discharged, Garcia shot back at critics on social media: “Just got discharged from the hospital today. Monday. inspite posting bail last Saturday... Special Treatment? Huh? Police Maltreatment Hinuon!”
In a radio interview on June 17, the 65-year-old Garcia explained that he never asked for a hospital arrest. Instead, he described being squeezed into a 16-square-meter cell with 32 other inmates, featuring a toilet that did not even have a proper bowl.
While district doctors initially wanted him transferred to VSMMC immediately due to his severe diabetes, a police doctor overrode the decision and promised the station would monitor him.
“They promised that I would stay in that jail because they would monitor me because of my condition, so I had no problem, alright, he overruled the findings of the district,” Garcia said.
Hours later, Garcia’s blood sugar spiked significantly. Because the district hospital lacked the specialized equipment to check if the prolonged high blood sugar had caused brain damage, doctors ordered an immediate transfer to VSMMC. There, he was diagnosed with stress-induced hyperglycemia.
Garcia stressed that the decision to move him was made entirely by medical and police staff, not by him.
Garcia argues that his detention violated constitutional mandates that require the strict segregation of senior citizens, people with disabilities (PWDs), and female detainees.
He has officially requested assistance from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to identify the officials responsible, promising to file formal charges to have them suspended or fired.
“I will go for the jugular because if I don't do this, I feel so sorry for the senior citizens who are in custodial facilities and treated this way,” Garcia said.
Local news outlets reached out to both the CHR and VSMMC administration for comment on Wednesday, June 17, but neither has responded as of press time. The ongoing dispute highlights a growing conversation about prison conditions and fairness in the public healthcare system. CDF
