German reporter loses wallet at hospital

MANILA, Philippines - A German national found her wallet missing shortly after visiting a local hospital last week in Caloocan City,

The STAR

gathered Friday.

Police sources said hospital officials, when asked about the apparent theft, told them it did not happen. Insiders told The STAR the incident was hushed up by hospital authorities to avoid embarrassment.

Police said Andrea Horn, 49, a reporter who was covering the activities of Operation Restore Hope, a group of 21 foreign medical personnel on missionary work in the country, found her wallet “missing” only minutes after the group toured the operating room on the second floor of the Diosdado Macapagal Memorial Medical Center.

The wallet contained Horn’s American Express card, a Deutschbank euro cash card, 250 euros, P6,000, a membership card in a German motorcycle club and a Lufthansa frequent traveler’s card, among others.

Records show Horn was billeted at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Manila. It was not clear which media entity she represented.

Police sources said hospital officials failed to coordinate with them for security and only called them after the incident happened.

A hospital staff told The STAR the hospital chief was in a meeting when reached for comment.