MANILA, Philippines — “Drug Queen” Yu Yuk Lai spent 10 months in a private hospital after suffering from “facial pain” and was able to leave her maximum security cell on two occasions after that due to other medical issues.
This was disclosed during the resumption Thursday of the Senate justice and human rights committee’s inquiry into alleged corruption at the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).
Yu, a Filipino of Chinese descent, was admitted at a private hospital in Binondo in 2014 where she underwent laboratory work-ups, May Ann Marasigan, acting corrections superintendent of the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) told the Senate panel.
“During the time, as per record, Yu Yuk Lai was also undergoing therapy due to anxiety with depressive symptoms,” Marasigan said.
“Initially the findings was transient ischemic attack,” she added.
Even as the symptoms of the short-term stoke would last from only minutes to an hour or less than 24 hours, as explained by Marasigan at the hearing, Yu stayed at the hospital for 10 months.
“That lady spent 10 months there, for transient ischemic attack and facial pain, how does one get away with that in God’s earth?” Senator Richard Gordon, chair of the Senate committee, asked.
Marasigan further noted that Yu was admitted at the same private hospital in Binondo in 2016.
She said Yu stayed at the hospital for 23 days after suffering from heat exhaustion and hyperthyroidism.
Yu was then admitted at the Philippine Heart Center from March 15 to May 2, 2017, Marasigan said.
“The initial impression was coronary artery disease as she was suffering from chest pains, the final discharge was hypertensive atherosclerosis cardiovascular disease,” she added.
After hearing this, Gordon lamented how well-off inmates appeared to have been favored in terms of being allowed to leave their cells for medical furlough.
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