Senator Dick Gordon did not buy the alibi of a doctor from the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) Hospital and said that it is impossible for him to be unaware of patients’ actions and the illegal activities inside the hospital.
Gordon questioned NBP Hospital Medical Officer Ursicio Ceñas following former Valencia City Mayor Jose Galario Jr.’s testimony that the “hospital pass for sale” scheme exists wherein patients pay the officers and officials for a pass so that they could be detained at a spacious ward inside the hospital.
“A lot of inmates who are in good health condition stay at the NBP Hospital.”
Galario told the veteran legislator and other senators that a lot of inmates who are in good health condition stay at the NBP Hospital, which is supposedly for the ailing prisoners only. He then disclosed that when he was detained at the Bilibid, he paid Ceñas eight times for the processing of his medical abstract which he later on used when he needed kidney and heart surgeries.
Ceñas denied the allegation and said that he never transacted with Galario and that he never gave special passes to inmates.
“Illegal drugs were being traded inside the NBP Hospital.”
Galario also disclosed that illegal drugs were being traded inside the NBP Hospital, but Ceñas again denied his involvement on the scheme.
Ceñas was cited in contempt, together with other two Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officials as the senators were not convinced with their answers.
Gordon said, “Chair orders the confinement of the three individuals until they are able to satisfactorily explain to the Senate why their period of confinement and contempt should simply be discontinued.”