Osmak denies antedated release order for Napoles

MANILA, Philippines - The Ospital ng Makati (Osmak) on Friday wrote the leadership of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and denied a newspaper report quoting an unnamed police officer alleging that it issued an "antedated" release order for businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles to escape blame for her continued stay.

The newspaper report said the hospital presented Napoles' release order to Napoles' police security detail only on May 12 even though the order was dated May 6.

In a one-page letter addressed to PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima and Osmak director, Dr. Perry Peralta denied the report which alleged that the hospital "tried to pass off an antedated release order" for Napoles” and that “OsMak officials apparently wanted to escape blame for Napoles’ continued stay at the public hospital”.

"We are writing to take exception to an article written by Marlon Ramos that came today (May 26) in the Inquirer.net quoting a police official who spoke on the condition of anonymity claiming that the Ospital Ng Makati (Osmak) “tried to pass off an antedated release order for alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles” and that “Osmak officials apparently wanted to escape blame for Napoles’ continued stay at the public hospital," said Peralta.

Peralta said that although Osmak had issued a discharge order for Napoles last May 6, 2014, her discharge clearance had not yet been released.

Peralta explained that it was Napoles who did not comply with the release procedure and even filed a motion with the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150, asking that her stay at the Osmak be extended.

"This order was written on the patient’s chart and the document presented to the police team securing Napoles last May 12 was not a release order or a discharge clearance. Once a discharge order is issued, the patient must have his/her release processed through the hospital’s finance unit, the entity that issues a discharge clearance. Apparently, Mrs. Napoles did not comply with the release procedure on the basis of a motion she filed in court requesting for an extension of her hospital stay. In effect, no release order has been issued." he said.

Peralta stressed, however, that Napoles could leave the hospital anytime from the time she was ordered discharged.

"This has been relayed to the PNP detail assigned to the patient," Peralta said.

"While Mrs. Napoles opted not to have her release processed, she can still be pulled out anytime (if needed or required) by simply executing a promissory note. The matter of her continued stay at OsMak is up to the courts, and not the hospital management," Peralta added.

Peralta told the court on Thursday that Napoles' hospital bills have balloned to P105,000. Napoles was operated on at Osmak to remove a cyst in her uterus. During the surgery last April 24, Napoles' uterus and ovaries were also removed along with the cyst.