The Local Government of Bataraza, in an official statement received by Palawan Daily, clarified that the death of a child recently exposed online by a mother last April 24 did not actually happen in one of the town’s checkpoints.
Bataraza Mayor Abraham Ibba and Bataraza Rural Health Officer Dr. Ma. Rebethia Acala stressed in a statement released April 26, that medical and safety protocols in line with the ECQ were required in the process of transporting patients out of the town. This is the reason why IATF representatives asked the child’s parents to secure a medical referral from their RHU instead of being simply allowed to pass through.
“Mga 11:30AM, noong April 23, Huwebes, isang miyembro ng checkpoint ang nag flag-down ng tricycle na sakay si “Baby X” at ang mga magulang nito. Hindi po ito isang pagkakamali dahil ito’y kautusan at sadyang bawal ang tricycle sa National Highway,” the LGU stated in a written statement.
The parents were then asked by the frontliners to show a medical referral coming from the Bataraza RHU for them to pass through, according to the statement.
When the parents reached the Bataraza RHU, blood sample was taken from the patient for examination. Some additional laboratory processes were also sought from the patient which took almost an hour to complete.
About 1PM, according to the statement, laboratory results were done and when medical staff was about to examine the child once again, they were informed that the family went out to eat lunch and came back around 3PM, giving out a 2-hour window time frame.
When the family came back, the child was given first aid and was examined by medical workers but was already starting to experience high-fever and convulsions.
The mother was then asked if the child fell off somewhere which she denied. At that time, Bataraza RHU immediately referred the patient to seek treatment from a private doctor located in Brooke’s Point using an ambulance. The patient was then admitted to a private hospital in Brooke’ Point, according to the statement.
The next day, in the morning of April 24, the attending physician in Brooke’s Point, who’s name and information was not disclosed by Bataraza LGU in their statement, recommended for the child to be brought for medical treatment in Puerto Princesa City.
“Kinabukasan ng umaga, April 24, 2020, nagpasya ang attending physician na ilipat sa Puerto Princesa City. Subalit habang nasa bayan ng Narra papuntang Puerto Princesa lulan ng ambulansiya ng MDRRMO Bataraza, si “Baby X” ay binawian ng buhay mga 11:30AM ng umaga,” according to the statement.
“Paglilinaw lang, hindi namatay sa checkpoint Bataraza ang batang si Baby X,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, hours after the child’s death while on transit, Odessa Ahmal-Saylila, the bereaved mother, on her Facebook post, said that she’s proud of the strict implementation of passing through checkpoints due to the Enhanced Community Quarantine but suggests that this has to be on a case-to-case basis especially if it’s a matter of life and death or emergency situations.
In an interview of Palawan Daily with Saylila, she explained that her child died because of the delays they encountered Thursday morning, April 23, in one of the checkpoints in Bataraza.
“Namatay po ang anak ko kasi ibi-biyahe namin sa Brooke’s Point dahil naninirik na ang mata at nasa 42 degrees celsius na ang temperature n’ya pero pagdating po ng Inugbu, hinarang kami at nagsabi ako na emergency at nakiusap po ako pero hindi po nila in-allow at sabi nila, kailangan daw nila ng referral galing sa RHU,” Saylila told Palawan Daily.
For the grieving mother, she wants the incident to be investigated to have a clear system and protocols on emergencies like to their case.
She added that they had information that this kind of incident at checkpoints in Bataraza on emergency cases happened before and their case was the third time on the list.
“Gusto ko po mabigyan ng hustisya ang anak ko kasi di ko kayang tanggapin ng ganun-ganon nalang dahil alam ko po na may magagawa sana kung hindi kami naharang at naubos ang oras namin pabalik-pabalik,” she added.
Yesterday, April 25, the post went viral after local media outlet published the news online, which resulted to numerous negative reactions from local netizens.
Officials from Bataraza, in an interview with Palawan Daily, stressed that they will press legal charges concerning the damage caused by irresponsible media entities who did not bother to seek their side of the issue.
Meanwhile, Provincial Information Officer Winston Arzaga, in a statement given to Palawan Daily, said that if the family wants to seek an assistance from the provincial office, they need to go through the process as well.
“Kung hihingi ng tulong ‘yan is isusulat nila ‘yan sa Emergency Operations Center natin dito sa Capitol at sila ang gagawa n’yan dahil EOC concern ‘yan dahil kung inter-agency ‘yan, sila talaga ang may sakop n’yan at ipa-receive lang nila dun para makagalaw ang EOC sa bagay na ‘yan at ma-aksyunan,” Arzaga said.