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‘Foreign-looking’ man collapses in Manila; no help arrives


 

A man who suddenly collapsed on a street in Manila was left lying on the ground for over an hour after a concerned bystander’s calls for help were not heeded by authorities.

According to a Sunday report on Balitanghali Weekend by Vonne Aquino, concerned citizen and medical practitioner Zaldy Maguigad posted a video on Facebook on Saturday of a man, possibly a foreigner, who suddenly collapsed on Remedios Street corner Taft Avenue.

“Nanginginig po siya na nakabaluktot. So ako bilang isang siyempre sa medical din po tayo nagtatrabaho ang tingin ko na doon pagka kasi ganoon, ‘matic meron po siyang fever,” he said.

Maguigad and other concerned citizens cordoned off the area surrounding the foreigner.

He said he called the Red Cross Manila Chapter, the 143 Emergency Hotline, the Ospital ng Maynila, and San Lazaro Hospital, but they all cited different reasons for why they could not rescue the foreigner.

Maguigad said he told Red Cross Manila that the man looked Chinese. Red Cross said there was no available ambulance, while the 143 Hotline said the victim needed to be accompanied.

“‘Hindi po dapat ‘yan may kasama ‘yung victim,’ ‘Yun ang tugon sa’kin., Sabi ko, ‘Paano ‘yan, emergency po ‘to. Porket po ba wala nang kasama hindi na puwede? Puwede po bang kahit kami na sumama?’ ‘Ay hindi po pupwede sir, e,” he recalled.

The Ospital ng Maynila referred Maguigad to the San Lazaro Hospital, which did not pick up his calls.

Maguigad also said he called police but no one responded to the incident.

Over an hour since he collapsed, Maguigad said the foreigner weakly stood up and walked away, leaving his things behind.

Drunk Korean

On Sunday evening, the Manila Public Information Office announced that according to the Ermita police, the man in question was in fact a Korean who had been drunk. He later showed up at Barangay 696's barangay hall in search of his belongings.

The incident occurred amid fears over the 2019 novel coronavirus, which has infected thousands of people in China and all over the world and killed at least 305 people. The Philippines on Sunday recorded the first death from the virus outside of China. — Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News

Tags: manila, news
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