Manila detainee dies after rejections from hospitals

MANILA, Philippines — A detainee suffering from meningococcemia died on Wednesday after he was refused admittance by several hospitals in Manila.

Richard Abarquez, 47, was arrested on March 28 and detained at the Manila Police District Station 6 on illegal drug charges. Capt. Henry Navarro, MPD homicide section chief, said police officers rushed Abarquez to the Sta. Ana Hospital at around 10:30 a.m. after complaining of difficulty in breathing.

However, the police officers were told that the hospital admitted only coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.

The lawmen tried two other hospitals, which also turned Abarquez away, before reaching the Philippine General Hospital, where the detainee was declared dead on arrival of acute respiratory failure “with underlying cause of sepsis and meningococcemia.” 

Navarro said he understands why the hospitals turned the detainee away because most of them were filled with COVID-19 patients.