News Briefs

Doctor, nurses cleared of raps

ADMINISTRATIVE charges were dropped by the Ombudsman-Visayas against a doctor and two nurses accused of causing a pregnant woman’s death six years ago.

The anti-graft office said it has no jurisdiction over Dr. Michelle Macatol-Tejero who isn’t a government employee.

It also found no basis to hold nurses Cheryl Reoma and Amanda Rivera liable for the death of Jessica Cagicas.

In his complaint, the husband Allan Cagicas said Dr. Tejero referred his wife to another hospital 66 kilometers away from Argao town, Cebu, despite signs that Jessica was about to give birth on Dec. 1, 2005.   She gave birth to a boy on the way to Cebu City then died in the ambulance ride.

When the case reached the Municipal Trial Court in Argao, Dr. Tejero entered into a compromise agreement with Cagicas.

The doctor paid P75,000 to the husband who in turn executed an affidavit of desistance, which led to the dismissal of the case.

Dr. Tejero was employed as a medical officer of the Powerlines Human Resource Management Inc., which is assigned at the Isidro Kintanar Memorial Hospital in Argao.

Dr. Tejero said she administered medications to the mother and sought her transfer because  the hospital had no facilities to treat her. The two nurses denied not helping the victim.

The midwife who accompanied Cagicas decided to bring the mother back to ICKMH, where  two nurses allegedly didn’t help them and the doctor refused to admit Jessica.

The husband then  decided to go with his wife to Cebu City. During the trip,  his wife stopped breathing. The cause of death was loss of blood.  Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol

Barangay officer suspended

A BARANGAY officer was suspended for six months without pay for failing to record her attendance and uttering derogatory remarks to councilors in Aloguinsan town, southwest Cebu.

Teodora Lapas, treasurer of barangay Kandingan,  was found liable by the Ombudsman-Visayas for neglect of duty and simple misconduct.

Four councilors complained that Lapas called them “dumb and stupid” during a barangay council’s special session on Oct. 29, 2009.  Her audio statements were recorded in a compact disc.

Lapas didn’t  report for duty on the third week of February to August 2009 and failed to file  a leave of absence or notify the council but still received her honoraria and traveling expenses. The Ombudmsan  said there was no  basis in giving Lapas her compensation without an attendance record.  Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol