Palace wants early probe results on Cebu scandal

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang on Monday said it is "expecting results" within the week on the Department of Health's (DOH) investigation on the surgery scandal at a government hospital in Cebu, as Health officials in Central Visayas are expected to deliberate on the matter within the day. Radio dzRH said according to Presidential Management Staff head Cerge Remonde, DOH Sec. Francisco Duque III promised swift action on the matter. But as of early Monday morning, dzBB radio's Cebu affiliate reported that the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center still refused to name those involved in the incident. Over the weekend, Remonde said he has taken a personal interest in the Cebu surgery scandal, as he is from Cebu. Church officials in Cebu also voiced their disgust over the conduct of medical practitioners involved in the "surgery scandal." Cebu archdiocese spokesman Msgr. Achilles Dakay said the Church in Cebu considers the conduct of some medical practitioners from the government-run Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center "very unprofessional and unethical." The clinical procedure involving a 39-year old homosexual was posted on video-sharing site YouTube. Dakay said the conduct of the involved medical practitioners was "very disgusting" as the video clip showed a "cheering and jeering" surgical team while conducting the surgery. - GMANews.TV