Patient flees from Laguna hospital over unpaid bills

SAN PEDRO CITY –– A man escaped from a medical facility in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna, stirring fear in the community that he could be infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and, therefore, a potential carrier on the loose.

But local police and the hospital, in separate statements Saturday, clarified that the patient, Christoffer Manara, 40, and a resident of Calamba City, was not seen or treated for the viral disease.

Instead, Manara was admitted at St. James Hospital on April 9 for hypertension “and not for any of the symptoms related to COVID-19,” the hospital said.

Manara was even issued a discharge order by his doctor the following day, according to the city police report.

But city police chief Lt. Col. Eugene Orate, Saturday, said the patient was not able to settle his hospital bills right away.

“He tried issuing a check but the hospital wanted him to submit some other collateral like (vehicle records) or property title,” Orate said.

He said it was not immediately clear how much the charges were.

According to investigation, Manara “absconded” from the facility on April 11 by using a hospital “watcher’s” pass to slip past hospital security.

The hospital reported the incident to local authorities the next morning.

Orate said they were already able to talk to Manara’s family, who promised to settle the patient’s outstanding bill.

“It was a case of misunderstanding,” said Orate, as he asked the public not to share unverified information online during these times of crisis.

Laguna has, so far, recorded 196 cases of COVID-19, as of April 17.

In Calabarzon, a total of 651 people had contracted the virus, 78 of whom had died and 56 recovered, the Department of Health said Saturday.

LZB