Tolentino asks NBI to hunt a physician who reportedly refused to treat Salilig for his initiation injuries
Senator Francis ‘TOL’ N. Tolentino has asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to mount a manhunt operation against a medical physician who was reportedly present during the initiation rites that killed Adamson University engineering student John Matthew Salilig.
Tolentino made the request during a public hearing by his Senate committee on justice and human rights on the fatal fraternity initiation rite of Salilig.
During that hearing,Tolentino disclosed that an affidavit submitted by Ralph Benjamin Tan a.k.a. “Scottie,” stated that a certain doctor who was supposedly in attendance during Salilig’s welcoming rites had refused to aid the victim when he was already fighting for his life following the severe injuries the victim suffered during his initiation rites.
“Yung isang suspect nagsalita siya na mayroong isa silang kasamahan na may pinsang doktor na nandoon na—noong naghihingalo na halos si Matthew ay hiningian ng tulong subalit yung doktor hindi tumulong (One suspect revealed that they had a companion who has a cousin-physician who was there but refused to aid Salilig who was then fighting for his life due to his injuries),’’ Tolentino said,
Tan is one of the five suspects who voluntarily surrendered to the authorities following the discovery of Salilig’s decomposing body in Barangay Malagasang in Imus City, Cavite last February.
Tolentino stressed that the NBI should look into the said doctor since the medical practitioner is criminally liable for refusing to perform his sworn duty under the doctor’s Hippocratic Oath.
“Sinabi ko sa NBI at kapulisan, try to identify the doctor who failed to render medical assistance kasi violation iyon sa kanyang sinumpaang tungkulin (I told the NBI and the police to try to identify the doctor who refused to render medical assistance because that is. a.violation of his oath). Kapag na identify iyon, dapat kasuhan din iyon (when he Is identified he should be charged),” the senator explained.
“Mabibigat ang kaso noon (That is a serious case). So kailangan lumabas yun, kasi kung tumulong iyon baka buhay pa si Matthew (Had that doctor helped him, Salilig might still be alive today),” he added.