E. Visayas COVID-19 testing lab chief dies in road mishap
TACLOBAN CITY – The chief of the COVID-19 laboratory testing center in Eastern Visayas died in a vehicular accident in Kananga, Leyte on Saturday afternoon.
Virgilio Hubilla of the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) was on board a Toyota Vios driven by Bienenido Menoc, Jr. when the accident happened at around 3 p.m.
The Kananga police, said Hubilla was on his way to Tacloban City from Ormoc City when his driver tried to overtake a truck and hit a parked dump truck instead.
Members of the Kananga Rescue Unit brought Hubilla to the Kananga Municipal Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.
The EVRMC, in a statement, said they were shocked by the death of Hubilla.
“The EVRMC Eastern Visayas Regional COVID-19 Testing Center is deeply mourning the passing of our chief medical technologist, Sir Bing Hubilla. We are all in deep sorrow due to his sudden demise. Sir Bing truly loved his experience in the COVID laboratory as he did the validation, extraction, and his favorite – doing the template adding for PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test,” it said.
“We certainly cherish the moments that we shared with Sir Bing. We are consoled by the fact that he is now at peace with his Creator,” it added.
The regional office of the Department of Health said Hubilla’s death would not hamper the examination of swab samples since there are other doctors and medical technologists assigned at the COVID-19 laboratory testing center.
“The loss of one of our dedicated staff is a sad news for both the EVRMC and DOH. He was one of the prime movers in establishing the COVID-19 laboratory in the region,” said John Paul Roca, DOH Eastern Visayas regional information officer.
