PNP to track down Chinese patients treated at illegal Pampanga COVID-19 hospital

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said it will hunt down the other Chinese patients who were treated for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at an illegal hospital in Pampanga.

Police Brig. Gen. Rhoderick Armamento, PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Deputy Chief for Administration said they will start contact tracing after the arrested suspects and the rescued patients from the hospital have finished being tested for COVID-19.

“‘Yung dalawa naming nahuli, pinag-swa-swabbing namin dun kasama yung pasyenteng naabutan dun at from there on dun kami na kami magsisimula ng contact tracing yung mga naging pasyente dun at kung nasan na sila,” Armamento said in an interview with CNN Philippines.

(The two men we have arrested were given swab tests, the patient was also included in the testing and from there we will start the contact tracing for the other patients and their locations.)

To recall, the PNP-CIDG arrested two Chinese nationals Hu Ling, the hospital’s supervisor and Lee Seung Hyun, a pharmacist; after police raided an unlicensed hospital inside the Clark Freeport, which exclusively treats patients allegedly infected with the coronavirus.

Seized during the raid were multiple unidentified medicines marked with Chinese characters.

The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) also ordered the lockdown and closure of the illegal medical facility, saying it potentially poses danger to COVID-19 patients in need of treatment from authorized health authorities.

During the raid, the  CIDG also rescued a Chinese patient who supposedly had symptoms of respiratory disease.

“Meron kaming inabutang pasyente diumano nagpapagamot dahil masakit ang  lalamunan. Pinadala na namin sa kasulukuyang pinadala sa pribadong ospital,” Armamento said.

(We saw a patient there who is allegedly being treated because of a sore throat. We already sent him to a private hospital.)

/MUF