POACC to file raps vs doctors in illegal hospital for POGO workers

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said Wednesday it will be filing criminal charges against the healthcare professionals who allegedly provide services for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGOs) workers in an illegally operating hospital in Pasay City. 

Interviewed on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon, PAOCC spokesperson Winston John Casio said the doctors, nurse, and pharmacist found working in the recently raided hospital did not have any license to practice their profession in the Philippines. Even the hospital itself has no permit to operate issued by the Department of Health (DOH).

“Sa kasalukuyan, ang aming legal officer ay nakikipag-meeting na sa Department of Justice para sa sa pagsampa ng kaukulang demandang kriminal laban doon sa mga nahuli,” Casio said. 

(Currently, our legal officer is meeting with the Department of Justice for the filing of a criminal charge against those apprehended.) 

“Kasalukuyan na rin kaming nagi-imbestiga para malaman kung sino ang iba pang mga beneficial owners. Meron na kaming ideya kung sino ang isa na may ari nito pero pinapahukay pa namin nang mas malalaliman kung sino pa ang iba nilang mga kasama doon,” he added.

(We are also currently investigating to find out who the other beneficial owners of the hospital are. We already have an idea of one person who owns it, but we're still digging deeper to see who else is working with them.) 

According to Casio, this “fake hospital” might be where the injured, sick, or tortured POGO workers go or are brought so they did not have to be admitted in a licensed Philippine hospital. 

Based on Raffy Tima’s exclusive report on Monday’s State of the Nation, the facility housed several high-end pieces of equipment that included a hemodialysis machine and medical paraphernalia.

A discrete backdoor was also found in the clinic, a possible indicator that clients know its clandestine nature. The establishment itself was located among several restaurants.—AOL, GMA Integrated News