Chiz calls out DOH over unpaid Sorsogon nurses; Vergeire says probe underway

Sorsogon Governor Francis "Chiz" Escudero has called out the Department of Health (DOH) after nine of the 11 nurses it deployed to the province amid the COVID-19 pandemic did not receive their salaries.

In a tweet on Thursday, Escudero said two of the nurses got their salaries for two months after working for five months.

Of the 11 nurses, only one remained in Sorsogon, the former senator said, adding the nurses did not also get any benefits "in violation of their contract."

Reacting to this, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said they will conduct an investigation.

“We will investigate these. Nais po nating ipaalam sa publiko na we do not take these things lightly,” Vergeire said in an online forum.

“Ayaw po natin na may na-aagrabyado na health workers sa proseso ng kaukulang benepisyo dahil nagmamalasakit sila sa ating bayan.” Vergeire said in an online forum.

She also said the regional and financial directors officers have been ordered to establish what went wrong “so we can address this immediately.” --KBK, GMA News