Last chance for doctor linked to UP hazing – NBI

A National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) official said yesterday they will charge opthalmologist Dr. Francisco Cruz with obstruction of justice next week if he continues to ignore the bureau’s summons to shed light on the death of University of the Philippines (UP) student Cris Anthony Mendez.

Head Agent Romulo Asis of the NBI-Anti-Terrorism Division (ATD) said they will send Cruz, a consultant at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC), the NBI’s third and final subpoena if he does not show up at the bureau on Sept. 28.

Witnesses said Cruz brought Mendez, 20, to the VMMC, where he was pronounced dead at 1 a.m. on Aug. 27. Cruz  was also allegedly the one who arranged for the hospital to release the body to St. Peter Funeral Parlor.

“We would be determined to file the (obstruction of justice) case if he does not obey our subpoena and if he does not want to come to our office to say what happened. We believe that he knows something but he just did not want to say it,” Asis said.

He added that Cruz would be violating provisions of Presidential Decree 1829, which penalizes obstruction of apprehension and prosecution of criminal offenders.

Apart from getting his on Mendez’s death, Cruz also has to acknowledge his affidavit and explain why he ordered the release of the body.

Asis said they are also contemplating filing a case against Cruz before the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) since “he is a licensed medical practitioner.”

The NBI will also file obstruction of justice charges against an official of a subdivision in Muntinlupa where Andoni Santos resides. The official reportedly told the NBI that Santos had already left for Spain and refused to receive their subpoena.

Santos was said to be one of the five applicants reportedly subjected to a hazing ritual allegedly conducted by members of a Sigma Rho fraternity.

Meanwhile, the NBI asked Mendez’s mother, Cristina, and landlady Gemma Jimenez to give their supplemental statements yesterday on Mendez’s missing belongings.

“We have already asked the VMMC and the St. Peter’s Funeral Parlor if they had in their possession the said missing personal effects of Mendez such as wallet, cash, ATM, cellular phone, money or pieces of important paper tucked inside the wallet. The cellular phone is very important,” he said.     – Evelyn Macairan