MANILA, Philippines – The Quezon City police released three doctors and three nurses who were facing homicide charges after their patient died on the operating table in a clinic in Libis, Quezon City, on Monday.

Anesthesiologist Dr. Nylene Arizala-Tan, cosmetic surgeon Dr. Peregrino Lorenzo VII, assistant surgeon Dr. Joel Unson, nurse aides Joey Budomo, Fionna Francisco and Djoanah Melissa Cave were allowed to go home Tuesday afternoon, according to Supt. Franklin Moises Mabanag.

Mabanag, chief of the QCPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU), said the suspects were released from the QCPD-CIDU jail in Camp Karingal, Quezon City after they underwent inquest proceedings in connection with the charge of homicide resulting from reckless imprudence filed against them.

He added that the Quezon City prosecutor’s office ordered the six released “for further investigation.”

The patient, Mary Jane Arciaga, 30, who had just come home from Dubai, died while undergoing liposuction at the Borough Medical Care Institute, located at the 6th floor of Cyber One Mall building, Eastwood City in Barangay Bagumbayan.

“We are still awaiting for the result of the histopathological exam done on the victim. Only then we can ascertain the actual participation of the suspects,” Mabanag told the Inquirer.

Relatives of the victim, meanwhile, expressed concern over the possibility that the accused might leave the country.

“We put our complete trust in Superintendent Mabanag and those investigating the incident. We’re hoping nothing will come up to jeopardize the police investigation,” Adelaida Tensuan, the victim’s aunt, told Inquirer.

Keith Nieto, the clinic’s legal counsel, said they were willing to cooperate with the police investigation. He maintained that their staff was “innocent of the charges until proven otherwise.”

“We also want to ferret out the truth behind her death. We want to know if our personnel were really liable for anything,” he said.