Coach's death probe sought; PSC gives aid

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Interior and Local Government Secretary Alfredo Lim has ordered an investigation into the circumstances leading to the death of a Camarines Norte lawn tennis coach at the General Santos Doctors' Hospital here Thursday.

The patient, Samuel Baylon, who suffered massive heart attack Saturday died at 12:15 a.m. Thursday. He was 46.

Lim ordered the probe to verify reports that the Camarines Norte coach, who was among sports officials attending the Palaro ng Bayan here, was not immediately released by hospital authorities to be airlifted to Manila.

Imelda Papin, Camarines Sur vice governor who rushed to the hospital after she was informed of the patient's death, said the Camarines Norte coach was in a coma since Sunday.

Baylon was brought to the hospital Sunday morning by friends after he complained of dizziness and numbness. Doctors at the hospital attended to him but a hospital supervisor, whose name was withheld pending investigation, would not release the patient until his bills amounting to P23,000 were paid.

Lim and Philippine Sports Commission chairman Carlos "Butch" Tuason had given assurance they would defray the cost of hospitalization, but it took some time before authorities could finally decide on his release.

The patient was brought back to the same hospital when he missed the flight Sunday.

Tuason, who had already left for Manila early this week, flew back to this city yesterday morning to personally attend to the needs of the bereaved family, including transporting the body to Camarines Norte on the lone PAL flight yesterday morning.

"Baylon is only an individual, an iota of a whole which is the Palaro. But without him the Palaro will not be complete; no matter how small he is, still he is a part of this success," said Tuason.

"And as human beings, we in the PSC believe it is our moral obligation to share whatever we deem would lessen the burden of Baylon's bereaved ones," he added.