Elderly man missing after visit to Manila North Cemetery found; hit by vehicle

MANILA, Philippines — The senior citizen who went missing after visiting the Manila North Cemetery on All Saints’ Day has been found.

Robert Duquilla Sr. was hit by a vehicle and was brought to a hospital in Manila.

In a phone interview, Jovic Duquilla told INQUIRER.net they found their father in Tondo Medical Center (TMC) on Friday at around 1 a.m.

Jovic recalled a social worker told them that their father was brought to the hospital early Thursday morning after being hit by a vehicle in Balintawak Market in Quezon City.

According to the social worker, it was the driver of the vehicle and his porter who took Robert Duquilla Sr. to the hospital.

The two persons assisted Robert while waiting for the elderly’s family to arrive.

Robert, a 64-year-old who has dementia, is now recovering in the medical center, his daughter said.

“Ngayon po, nagpapagaling. Pero possible daw po na ma-operahan siya kasi may namuo pong dugo sa left side ng brain,” Jovic responded when asked how is her father now.

(Right now, he is recovering. But he may undergo an operation since there is a blood clot on the left side of his brain.)

Jovic said they are currently seeking help from TMC Malasakit Center for medical assistance for her father.

Meanwhile, on a Facebook post of TMC Medical Social Service on Thursday, the hospital had also looked for the family and relatives of Robert.

“Ang Tondo Medical Center-Medical Social Service Department ay nanawagan sa nakakakilala o kamag-anak ng aming pasyente na kasalukuyang walang pagkakakilanlan,” it had said.

(Tondo Medical Center-Medical Social Service Department is calling for those who know or the relatives of our patient who is currently unidentified.)

“Siya ay dinala dito ng rescue team kaninang alas-kwatro ng madaling araw kasama ng drayber at pahinante na nakabangga sa kanya sa lugar ng Balintawak market, Barangay Unang Sigaw na nasasakop ng lungsod ng Quezon City,” the caption added.

(He was brought here by the rescue team at 4 o’clock dawn, together with the driver and porter of the vehicle that hit him in the area of Balintawak Market, Barangay Unang Sigaw, that is in Quezon City.)

Earlier on Thursday, the Duquilla family and the Manila Public Information Office posted online messages seeking help locating the elderly man.

According to Jovic, through the posts, they were traced by the social worker and were informed about their father’s situation.

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TAGS: All Saints' Day, missing