By Argyll Cyrus Geducos
President Duterte will shoulder the burial expenses of the 11-month-old daughter of a Filipino soldier who died due to complications from surgery.
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go (Senator Bong Go's Official Facebook Page / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Duterte made the promise to the parents of Eren Arabella Crisologo from Butuan City who died while undergoing surgery for biliary atresia in India.
According to Senator Bong Go, Duterte assured Erne Crisologo and his wife Charibel during his visit to the child's wake that he will shoulder the expenses for the burial.
Last June, Baby Eren and her parents were sent to Apollo Hospital in India for the needed medical operation. Despite efforts in saving her, she did not survive the complications of the said operation.
Go said the family patriarch asked the President for medical assistance. He said the President sent the baby girl to India for the surgery.
Inilapit ng tatay sa amin ni PRRD. Ipinadala namin sa India para i-transplant pero nasawi dahil sa komplikasyon (The father asked us for help and we sent her to India for a transplant. Unfortunately, she died due to complications)," he said.
"Sasagutin ng Pangulo lahat ng gastos pati pagpapalibing sa bata (The President will shoulder all expenses, including the burial)," he added.
"Naging maganda naman ‘yung operation pero nagkakumplikasyon (The surgery went well but there were some complications)," he said.
Biliary atresia is a rare disease of the liver and bile ducts that also occurs in infants. Given the complications attributed to the disease, the operation needed to address it is not readily available in the country.
The President first met baby Eren when he visited the wounded-in-action soldiers in a hospital in Cagayan de Oro City last March.
According to Go, Eren was not the first child that they sent to India for surgery.
"May mga bata na kaming naipadala sa India, isa from Taguig naging successful ang operation, may isa nandun pa (We've already sent kids for surgery to India. One is from Taguig who had a successful operation while another one is still there.)," he said.
"Lahat ng batang may malalang sakit at kumplikado lumapit lang sa Pangulo lalo anak ng sundalo, tutulungan namin (Every kid who is suffering from a serious illness, especially those who are children of soldiers, just approach the President and we will help you)," he added.
Another child, baby Dionifer, was sent to India with her parents also in June this year. The surgery went well but he is still undergoing further tests in India.
"Naiwan pa po ‘ung isang baby (Dionifer) sa India, marami pa pong tests na ginagawa dahil kailangan talagang compatible ito (Baby Dionifer is still in India to undergo tests to make sure that the liver is really a match)," Go said.