Doctors in Shiryl Saturnino case may face criminal, admin raps—PNP

The doctors who operated on the businesswoman who died on the operating table a cosmetic clinic on Sunday may face both criminal and administrative charges, police said on Thursday.

"They are contemplating to file criminal charges against those involved na mga doctors at nurses," Eastern Police District Director Chief Supt. Romeo Sapitula said on GMA News TV's QRT.

He said the PNP could also lodge administrative cases against the doctors and nurses who operated on Shiryl Saturnino before the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

"Siguro irerecomenda rin nila ng administratibo sa PRC para dun sa revocation of licenses ng mga ito kung sila ay makitaan natin na talagang may pagkukulang ang paglabag sa batas natin," Sapitula said.

The cousin who accompanied Saturnino to the clinic confessed to knowing that the deceased had asthma but police are stumped on whether the victim disclosed her condition to doctors before undergoing surgery.

"Hindi lang natin alam kung ito dinivulge nung biktima sa mga doktor pero ang alam niya talaga may asthma ito at pinapatunayan niya rin na yung pinsan niya, buhay na buhay nung pumunta dun sa clinic at nagulat na lang siya na ito ay namatay," Sapitula said.

Saturnino was reported on Tuesday to have died at The Icon Clinic hours after she entered its operating room at 5 p.m. on Saturday for a liposuction, butt, and breast augmentation.

Operating doctors Dr. Jose Jovito Mendiola and Dr. Samuel Yapjuangco, circulating nurse Virgil Alec Ongleo, nurse assistant Alvin Carl Genove, and staff nurse Audrey Michelle have submitted their licenses and documents to the police.

Their documents were presented during the case conference held by police for Saturnino's case on Thursday and are subject for validation.

Police will receive their statements on Tuesday or Wednesday next week and use it in their continuing investigation.

"Hintayin nila yung mga testimonya ng mga doktor na humingi sa amin ng limang araw na palugid. Gayun din yung mga nurses na tumulong dun at inaantay rin yung resulta ng laboratory examination, yung histopathological para mas malinaw (kumpara) sa autopsy," Sapitula said.

The PNP Crime Laboratory has been instructed to prioritize Saturnino's histopathological examination as it normally takes a month for such procedures to be completed. —Rie Takumi/NB, GMA News