4 victims of ‘palit-ulo’ scam in Valenzuela hospital given P1M each

Four individuals allegedly detained in a private hospital in Valenzuela City after failing to immediately settle medical bills were each provided with “financial assistance” worth P1 million, the local government said Monday.

This was announced by Valenzuela Mayor Wes Gatchalian at a press conference, saying the money was given by the ACE Medical Center to give “closure” to the so-called “palit-ulo scam.”

“I very much welcome the assistance na ibinigay ng ACE Medical Hospital sa ating mga victims. Ang financial assistance na kanilang ibinigay last Friday [ay] para magkaroon na rin po ng closure ang ating imbestigasyon paukol sa scam,” the mayor said.

(I very much welcome the assistance given by the ACE Medical Center to our victims. The financial assistance they gave last Friday was part of the closure of our investigation into the scam.)

In April, the local government said that illegal detention charges were filed against the medical facility after it allegedly detained family members of patients who have yet to settle their medical bills.

One complainant, Lovery Magtangob, said her sister-in-law was brought to the hospital when she experienced vomiting and difficulty breathing on February 22. The patient reportedly died due to thyroid storm and some complications after being admitted at the hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) for four days.

With an unsettled bill back then worth P777,378, Magtangob said a security guard allegedly stopped her from leaving the hospital.

Another complainant, Richel Mae Pepito Alvaro, said she was also prevented from leaving the hospital premises, even to buy food, after failing to settle her deceased husband’s medical bills worth P518,519.

“It’s been seven months na ang ating mga biktima ay nagdadaan ng psychological, emotional anguish, and anxiety po at hindi naging madali itong seven months para sa ating mga biktima at sa ating mga kababayan. Marami po silang pinagdaanan,” Gatchalian said,

(Our victims went through psychological, emotional anguish, and anxiety in the past seven months and it was not easy for them. They have been through a lot.)

Citing the city’s ordinance on anti-hospital detention, he also reminded private hospitals in Valenzuela City to respect the human rights of patients, especially the poor, who reach out to them for medical attention.

With the financial assistance given, Valenzuela City councilor Atty. Bimbo Dela Cruz said the four victims “freely” decided to withdraw their complaints against the private hospital.

“Naayos na ho ang relasyon ng ACE Medical Hospital sa city hall. Naayos na rin ho ang relasyon nila sa apat na biktima natin. Kaya ho ‘yung apat natin na biktima, malaya at kusang loob silang umatras sa mga kaso na finile namin sa PhilHealth, DOH, Commission on Human Rights, sa piskalya,” he said.

(ACE Medical Hospital's relationship with the city hall and our four victims have been fixed. That's why our four victims freely and willingly withdrew the cases we filed with PhilHealth, DOH, Commission on Human Rights, and the prosecutor's office.)

Asked if the financial assistance could be considered as an “amicable settlement” between the two parties, Dela Cruz said that it is more of a “gift” to the victims this holiday season.

“Kung meron hong regalo ang ACE Medical Center sa kanila (biktima), ‘yun din naman ang regalo nila sa ACE—peace of mind para ho sa mga empleyado nating nadamay po sa kaso. Ang pinakamagandang regalo ngayong araw na ‘to [ay] regalo ng hustisya,” the councilor added.

(If ACE Medical Center has a gift for the victims, then this is their gift to ACE—peace of mind for the employees who were affected by the case. The best gift given today is the gift of justice.)—AOL, GMA Integrated News