PNP-CIDG validating reports of underground hospitals in Regions III, IV-A, NCR

Authorities are validating reports about the existence of other underground hospitals for Chinese nationals amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a police official said on Friday.

Police Brigadier General Rhoderick Armamento, Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group deputy director for administration, told Dobol B sa News TV that they are checking if there are also underground hospitals in Metro Manila and in CALABARZON.

"Right now, may mga ilang report pa kaming bina-validate at sige-sige 'yung intelligence build-up namin. Hindi lang sa Region III, may mga areas pa kami sa Region IV-A, Metro Manila," Armamento said.

The Alliance for Consumer and Protection of Environment (ACAPE) Inc. has urged the national government to probe those behind the  alleged clandestine hospital, which catered exclusively to Chinese patients who tested positive for COVID-19.

In May, police raided an "underground" hospital wherein a former leisure village was converted into an illegal pharmacy and seven-bed makeshift hospital for Chinese nationals infected with COVID-19 in Pampanga.

Reports said the establishment does not have a permit to operate from the Department of Health and Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Armamento said the administrator and pharmacist of the underground hospital have already been charged.—AOL, GMA News