Amputated foot in Bulacan construction site stirs controversy

CITY OF MALOLOS — An amputated foot has stirred a controversy here after it was found in a construction site at the back of the provincial Capitol on Saturday.

Social media quickly reported that the severed limb was the result of a brutal murder.

But the police was later said that the left foot was surgically removed from a diabetes sufferer who was being treated at the Bulacan Medical Center (BMC), near the Bulacan Capitol grounds, said Senior Supt. Romeo Caramat Jr., Bulacan police director.

Gregorio Evangelista, 68, of Meycauyan City, went through surgery on Friday and was recuperating at the intensive care unit, according to hospital administrator Leticia Hilario.

Hilario said standard operating procedure require the BMC to turn over all amputated body parts to the patients’ relatives for proper disposition.

BMC nurses Raysie Garcia and Luigene Gumafelix informed the police that the foot was given to the patient’s wife, Mercedez Evangelista, so it could be buried following the 2:15 p.m. to 6 p.m. surgery conducted by Dr. Benjamin Inoturan. The nurses gave the police copies of the receipt of turn-over and certificate of confinement of the patient.

Mercedez told investigators that she gave the box containing the amputated foot to their 34-year-old son. The foot was supposed to have been delivered to an older brother for burial.

She said her son, a call center agent, left the hospital at about 10 p.m. Mercedez said she was surprised to learn the foot was abandoned at the construction site.

The police said no one would be charged for the abandoned foot, which was brought to the Superior Funeral Homes in Barangay Bintog, Plaridel town. /cbb