BACOLOD CITY, Philippines—(UPDATE) Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has ordered the reinstatement of Dr. Benito Bionat as chief of the medical professional staff of the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) in Bacolod City.

In his December 16, 2008 order, Duque directed that Bionat be restored to his position immediately in compliance with the order issued by Bacolod Regional Trial Court Judge Demosthenes Magallanes on November 26, 2008 for Bionat’s reinstatement.

Judge Magallanes said “the facts obtained entitle the petitioner to preliminary mandatory injunction pending final resolution of the case.”

Bionat said he received Duque’s order on December 24, but he had returned to work even earlier -- on December 3 -- after Magallanes issued the reinstatement order.

Bionat had filed a civil case against Duque and five other DOH officials -- Ma. Margarita Galon, David Lozada Jr., Agnette Peralta, Jaime Bernadas and Epifania Simbul -- asking the RTC to nullify the orders removing him from his posts at the CLMMRH, with prayer for preliminary injunction, temporary restraining order and damages.

The DOH froze the functions of three hospital officials, Bionat, chief of hospital Dr. Domingo Vega and chief administrative officer Rey Melchor Bryan Baylon.

In the civil case he filed, Bionat said that he had not been granted due process of law.

He claimed that the DOH did not state the reason or cause for his transfer and that it was implemented during the election period, which was prohibited by the Commission on Election and the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers.