The chiefs of two hospitals in the Province of Cebu where a woman about to give birth was taken for supposed obstetric care, but died instead, denied negligence on their part in the incident. 

Airish Comaling, 34 years old, was first taken to the Argao District Hospital upon experiencing labor contractions. However, the midwife in the said hospital reportedly found out that the contractions were not strong yet, or on early phase yet.

As a lump was observed reportedly in her birth canal, Comaling was referred to the Carcar Provincial Hospital.

Argao District Hospital does not have the capacity to perform a Caesarian operation, clarified Dr. Eric Geyrozaga, chief of hospital.

Geyrozaga also negated accusation that the ambulance does not have fuel, the reason on the alleged delay in Comaling's transfer to Carcar Provincial Hospital.

Geyrozaga said that, in fact, it was a vehicle of the hospital which ferried Comaling to Carcar City.

Further, Geyrozaga pointed out that Comaling was in stable condition when she left Argao for Carcar City.

Meawnhile, Dr. Prudencio Manubag, chief of Carcar Provincial Hospital, said that the woman was attended to immediately upon her arrival.

However, at that time, the obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-Gyne) was already off-duty when the patient arrived.

The attending physician is a general practitioner who observed that the baby in the womb was already in distress.

Manubag said that while the hospital has the capacity to perform a Caesarian operation, the OB-Gyne was already off-duty. The hospital has about four OB-Gynes, but none was available at that time.

Comaling’s family accused the two hospitals of inefficiency and negligence that resulted in the death of the mother and her baby. 

Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro has ordered a thorough investigation on the incident through the Committee on Discipline and Ethics.

Baricuatro visited the wake of Comaling and her baby in Argao town, south Cebu.

The governor went emotional at the wake, she said, because the sight of a mother and a baby in one coffin reflects the severe challenges in Cebu Province's healthcare system.

In a strong message, Baricuatro vowed immediate action should negligence on the part of medical practitioners be proven.

"I will not hesitate to go after you," Baricuatro said.