Talisay mayor's son mulls raps vs. Mandaue hospital

CEBU, Philippines - For allegedly failing to attend to his burns last Saturday night from an accident, Talisay City Mayor Johnny V. de los Reyes' youngest son, John Venth, is planning to file a case against the Mandaue City District Hospital.

"Sa tanan nga bakak ninyo we will pursue the filing of the case against Mandaue City District Hospital," said John Venth in a statement he posted on Facebook, in reference to MCDH administrator Dr. Maria Lourdes Espinoza. Espinoza earlier denied that the state-run hospital had refused to treat John Venth and his girlfriend, Salvee Vega, that night, saying their hands were full at that time taking care of patients with life-threatening conditions, while the couple had allegedly insisted they should be treated first because of their painful burns.

In his statement, John Venth, 21, said they are planning to see Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes to clarify this issue with MCDH. John Venth said it is not true that the MCDH staff told them that they could not be given ointment as they did not have any at that time. He said that no one from the hospital actually saw to their needs.

"Ang sakit nga akong nabati sa paso wala na nakapabuta nako. Di gyud to mo minos ug unom ka nurses nga ga tanga lang ga tan-aw sa amo," he said. The mayor's son also alleged that the nurses told them that they could not help them as it was a vehicular accident that happened in Cebu City.

"Dili gyud mi mohilabot ana kay vehicular accident dayon sa Cebu City nahitabo," John Venth quoted the nurses as saying.

John Venth said they will personally meet with Cortes so he could see the burns in his thighs and in Vega's arms as well.

"Wala diay na siya takna nga naa mi didto kay on-leave. And now she suddenly knew everything?" John Venth said, referring to Espinoza.

"Kini pagpasaka namo ug kaso dili ni para pag protection sa ako or tungod kay nasuko mi. Ipasaka namo ni para sa kausaban anang MCDH ug para sa mga Mandauehanon nga nagkinahanglan ug tabang nga intawn balibaran lang," he added.

The mayor's son and Vega were travelling along the road in Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City, when the engine of John Venth's Yamaha 1,000-cc motorcycle exploded. John Venth sustained second-degree burns in both thighs, while Salvee sustained minor burns in her arms. For almost two days, the mayor's son was confined at the Chong Hua Hospital for the treatment of his burns.  —/BRP (FREEMAN)