The City Government of Valenzuela in coordination with the LAMP Sinag and Valenzuela Police Station held a press conference to provide updates on the Palit-Ulo Scam and presented two more victims with identical claims,  May 10.

Valenzuela City Mayor WES Gatchalian alongside Councilor Atty. Bimbo Dela Cruz and VCPS Chief-of-Police PCOL. Allan Benitez Umipig confirmed the order and issuance of a warrant of arrest by Judge Marita Iris Laqui Genilo of the Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 109 to the accused Maria Cristina Eugenio, Raymond Masaganda, and Samuel Delos Santos, hospital staff from the ACE Medical Center.

In the fiscal resolution dated April 23, the prosecutors found probable cause for grave coercion under Article 268 of the Revised Penal Code or the Slight Illegal Detention filed by Lovery Magtangob. In her sworn statement, Magtangob was allegedly detained and refused to release the death certificate of her deceased loved one. According to her, the said hospital merely issued them a probational death certificate, and were informed that one of the family members should stay at the hospital during the bill settlement.

Meanwhile, Richel Alvaro, who filed a case in violation of serious illegal detention, is already waiting for the fiscal resolution.

In addition to the updates, Mayor WES also presented additional complainants with identical claims against the hospital. According to the victims, Nerizza Zafra and Cheryluvic Ignacio, both from Valenzuela City, have seen the press conference of the Palit-Ulo Scam aired last April 3. Ignacio and Zafra both decided to come to report that they experienced the same in 2017 and 2021, respectively.

In the case of Zafra, who gave birth to a premature baby, at ACE Hospital in October 2017, stayed in the hospital together with her newborn for over a month. With almost half a million hospital bills, they processed it and paid at least about PhP 200,000. Asking for a promissory note, the hospital staff insisted that they do not allow it. Feeling helpless about their situation, they sought assistance from the Public Attorney’s Office which issued a demand letter to the hospital. The hospital then allowed Zafra and her daughter to go home. Failing to fully settle the remaining bill, the hospital did not register the birth certificate of her daughter.

In a separate incident, Cheryluvic Ignacio tested positive for COVID-19 in October 2021. After receiving a discharge order on the 11th day in the said hospital, she processed her bill amounting to PhP 275,374.47. According to Ignacio, her HMO did not cover all the amount, and still has a remaining balance of about PhP 150,372.00 Failed to get a promissory note because she claimed that the hospital did not allow one, she stayed at the hospital and waited until a family member completed their quarantine in the facility to help her settle the bill.

On April 15, accompanied by Mayor WES Gatchalian and Councilor Atty. Bimbo Dela Cruz, formal complaints from Zafra and Ignacio were filed respectively.

Preventing these same incidents from being experienced again by the Pamilyang Valenzuelano, Valenzuela City Council has passed Ordinance No. 1178, Series of 2024 also known as the “Anti-Hospital Detention Ordinance,” which provides the following administrative penalties for illegal hospital detention.

Article II, Section 3 states the “Prohibition on Detention of Patients and/or Patient Representatives” which provides that “it shall be unlawful for any Health Care Institution or Health Care Worker to detain or to otherwise cause, directly or indirectly, the detention of a Patient and/or Patient Representative”.

Meanwhile, Article III, Section 5 states the “Prohibition of Non-Issuance of Death Certificate or Birth Certificate”, wherein “prohibited acts” declares that “it shall be unlawful for any Health Care Institution or Health Care Worker to refuse to issue or withhold the issuance of a birth certificate or death certificate to a Patient or Patient Representative on the sole ground of non-payment of Health Care Fees, provided the Patient or Patient Representative executes and submits a notarized promissory note in favor of the relevant Health Care Institution and/or Health Care Worker,”.

Under Article IV, Section 8, the ordinance states the administrative penalties that may be imposed on anyone who violates.

1st offense - Two hundred thousand pesos (PhP200,000) or suspension of business permit for thirty (30) calendar days, or both, upon the discretion of the city Mayor.

2nd offense - Three hundred thousand pesos (PhP300,000) or suspension of business permit for sixty (60) calendar days, or both, upon the discretion of the city Mayor.

3rd offense - Four hundred thousand (PhP400,000) or suspension of business, or both, upon the discretion of the city Mayor.

The City Chief Executive may lift the suspensions of business permits once the offenses are sufficiently addressed.

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