Cebu Third District Rep. Pablo John Garcia said his two brothers – Marlon and Nelson Garcia – “died not from COVID or pneumonia but because of the bacteria that they got from the hospital.”
The Cebu congressman stated this in an emotionally-charged press briefing with his sister, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia Thursday afternoon.
As tears were shed during the press conference, the Garcias asked if taking their brothers Marlon and Nelson to a hospital for treatment of their coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections contributed to their deaths.
Rep. Pablo John, who admitted having tested positive for COVID-19 but opted to undergo home-isolation while taking medication, recalled when a doctor advised him to be admitted in a hospital. He, however, refused fearing that he will be exposed to an infectious place.
“Those words kept coming back, haunting me because that’s exactly what happened to my brothers. They died not from COVID or pneumonia but because of the bacteria that they got from the hospital,” Rep. Pablo John said.
The Garcia siblings said their brothers Marlon and Nelson were admitted in the same hospital, which they did not identify.
Nelson, a former mayor of Dumanjug town, Southern Cebu, died last September 1, while Marlon died last September 6. Marlon was the incumbent mayor of Barili town, Southern Cebu at the time of his passing.
Rep. Pablo John said their brothers tested positive for COVID-19 “but they recovered and what happened after was what caused their deaths.”
The governor said that based on the death certificate, Nelson died due to “immediate cardio pulmonary arrest secondary to probable massive pulmonary embolism.”
For Marlon, the cause of death was “septic shock secondary to catheter related blood stream infection, ventilator associated pneumonia.”
Marlon and Nelson were also “COVID confirmed but critical pneumonia recovered.”
The governor revealed that Marlon had wanted to leave the hospital, saying he had already recovered from COVID-19.
Marlon was even willing to sign a waiver so he could just go home but the doctors refused, the governor said.
“Please tell your mom that I am willing to sign any waiver. I just want to go home. I am okay already. I am more worried about the bills piling up,” Gwendolyn said, quoting the text message that Marlon sent to Cristina, the mayor of Liloan town, Cebu, and daughter of the governor.
The Garcia siblings said they thought all along that Marlon and Nelson were already recovering, but got surprised when, in a sudden turn of events, the brothers were intubated and transferred to intensive care unit (ICU).
The governor said she even tried to give a set of medication to her brothers, but the doctors did not allow them to take them.
The medication was the one being given by the Provincial Health Office to Cebu constituents with COVID-19 symptoms.
Rep. Pablo John said he took the medication given by the governor and recovered from COVID-19 by spending less than P10,000. This is the congressman’s advice: If it can be avoided, those who contract COVID-19 may just undergo home-isolation while taking medication.
The Garcia siblings revealed that both Marlon and Nelson stayed in the hospital for one month. Marlon’s hospital bills reached P5.2 million, while Nelson’s bill was P3.2 million.
Still not included in the bills incurred by Nelson and Marlon were the doctor’s fees.
“They kept on asking why the doctors are not allowing them to go home. We just told them we will get to the bottom of this,” Rep. Pablo John.
The Garcias also revealed that Marlon’s son and his wife also tested positive for COVID-19 but were able to recover without being hospitalized.
“They were immediately given the medication. They underwent steam inhalation. Bash me if you want but I hope you don’t get to experience losing brothers,” said Garcia, who was repeatedly criticized for promoting steam inhalation locally known as tuob.
Rep. Pablo John said they were shocked with his brothers’ deaths as there were patients who were older and “physically worse” who recovered from the virus.
The Garcias said they were able to talk to one of the doctors through the phone.
The governor said that their brother Winston Garcia was present during the talk.
It was during the talk that the Garcias confirmed that the doctors refused to let their siblings execute an affidavit signifying their intentions to go home.
The governor asked if it was more prudent that her brothers were transferred to private rooms instead of ICU, which is more expensive.
“They had the lives of my brothers in their hands and yet they still died and left horrendous bills behind,” the governor said.
The governor further asked if COVID-19 treatment “is to save life or make money.”
While it may be necessary to seek hospitalization right way, the Garcia siblings advised the public to immediately undergo swab testing, isolate and take needed medication when experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
The governor said losing their two brothers just days apart was devastating but what was more difficult was informing their 94-year-old father of the deaths of Marlon and Nelson.
“We had a meeting how to break it to our father. It was not easy for a father to lose a son,” said the governor.
The governor likewise lashed out at some people spreading rumors that Rep. Pablo John had passed on due to COVID-19.
“I want you to see him (Pablo John) because people are spreading rumors about him. He is alive and thank God he is alive,” the governor said.