NBI starts probe on disinfectant death of PNP doctor
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has launched an investigation into the death of a police doctor while working at a government-run quarantine facility, President Duterte said in his report to Congress.
The President said Police Captain Casey Gutierrez, M.D., died after allegedly inhaling chemical substances at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City last week. The sports arena, popularly known as Ultra, is one of the facilities converted into temporary quarantine centers for coronavirus patients.
“Investigation on the following cases involving violations of RA No. 11469 are ongoing... the death of PCapt. Casey C. Gutierrez, M.D., a member of the PNP-Health Service due to alleged inhalation of chemical substances while he was detailed at the Philippine Sports Arena for the care of COVID-19 patients,” Duterte said in his 11th weekly report to Congress.
Gutierrez, 31, reportedly had trouble breathing while undergoing the decontamination protocol at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City last March 24. He was rushed to the hospital and died the next day.
Two days later, two more policemen reportedly suffered difficulty in breathing after undergoing the same decontamination process at the site.
The PhilSports arena is one of the two PNP-manned COVID-19 quarantine facilities aside from the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).
Apart from the death of the police doctor, the President mentioned other investigations being conducted by the NBI in relation to the coronavirus response.
He said 43 hospitals located in Metro Manila, Nueva Ecija, Laguna, and Rizal are under investigation for allegedly refusing to admit patients.
An investigation on the alleged overpricing by Omnibus Bio-Medical Systems, Inc. and Sansure Biotech of the Automated Nucleic Acid Extraction Machines they supplied is also underway, Duterte said.
He said the NBI is likewise looking into the alleged anomalous distribution of financial assistance to affected sectors.
As of June 1, the President said the NBI received 449 complaints and inquiries via calls and text messages regarding the distribution of financial assistance to affected sectors. From these complaints, he said 112 complaints are being investigated by the NBI Anti-Graft Division and various regional and district offices.
“Thus far, it has filed two cases against a Barangay Chairperson and three others from Barangay Ilayang Nangka, Tayabas City, for violations of RA No. 11469 and RA No. 3019, the ‘Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,’” he said.
Duterte also gave Congress an update on the killing of a retired soldier at a quarantine checkpoint in Quezon City last April.
He said NBI found probable cause to charge PMSg Daniel Florendo Jr. and four police trainees for the murder of Cpl. Winston Ragos which occurred last April 21 at a community quarantine checkpoint in Pasong Putik, Quezon City.
He said PMSg Florendo and PsSg Hector Besas have also been charged with Planting of Evidence, penalized under RA No. 10591, the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition of 2012.
“The testimonies of witnesses indicate that the bag of Cpl. Ragos was very light and that no inspection of its contents was made by the respondents,” he said.