With no cash for TB meds, man dies while waiting for bus home

A 34-year-old man, who just had himself voluntarily discharged from a hospital for lack of money to continue his treatment, died late Saturday afternoon in his mother’s arms while waiting for a ride home in Manila.

Richard Verilla, then accompanied by his mother, Virginia, was waiting for a Cavite-bound bus at around 4:30 p.m. near Metropolitan Theater at Plaza Lawton in Ermita when he suddenly collapsed and died.

SPO2 Glenzor Vallejo of the Manila Police District homicide section said the Verillas, residents of Clarissa Homes, Punta Uno, Tanza, Cavite, had just left San Lazaro Hospital in Sta. Cruz where Richard was treated for pulmonary tuberculosis.

Vallejo said Verilla was brought to the hospital on March 26. “However, for lack of financial capacity to support the medical expenses,” he and his family members decided that it would be better for him to go home, he said.

But while waiting for a bus bound for Cavite, Verilla fainted and died on the spot. His body was brought to the St. Yvan funeral parlor for safekeeping.

Verilla’s mother told police investigators that her son was born with the medical condition.