Pulling the Plug
After the BOR dismissed Gonzales, several student and faculty organizations released resolutions condemning the move of the highest-policy making body in the university. The Faculty College Council of UP Manila (UP Manila), UP medical Association, UP Alumni Association of America, UPCM Student Council, UPM University Student Council and the All UP Workers’ Union issued resolutions stating that they recognize Gonzales as the “rightful” PGH director.
UPCM Associate Dean Abundio Balgos then resigned, followed by the deputy directors for health operations and fiscal services.
Gonzales, who functioned as the director from January 7 to February 25, stayed in the Director’s office at the first floor of PGH. Domingo, meanwhile, was holding office at the second floor of the hospital.
“My physical presence and office was all that was left. The students and the staff still recognize me as the director, but I am devoid of my powers,” Gonzales said.
A day after he was removed, UPM Chancellor Ramon Arcadio issued a directive that the director’s three secretaries would be transferred to Domingo. After a week, the telephone lines in the office were cut.
Then, the UPM administration literally pulled the plug from Gonzales’ office. Students and faculty held a protest action two days after, and electricity was restored on April 12.
Bañez said it was Gonzales “who clearly has the mandate as the PGH director” and the BOR should see that in the string of rallies held against his removal.
“The real reason behind the BOR’s removal of Gonzales as director is his opposition to the privatization of PGH,” explained Bañez.
The UP administration is “hell-bent” on leasing the PGH Faculty Medical Arts Building (FMAB) to a private hospital, said Bañez. PGH is a 1,500-bed public hospital – the biggest tertiary hospital in the country
“This is dangerous because PGH should cater to poor people. Only a few people are able to afford medical expertise at a cheaper price. If you privatize the laboratory, diagnostics and the pharmacy of the FMAB, the poor would have nowhere to go to,” said Gonzales. (Bulatlat.com)
I find what was published here that the delayed release of the blood was politically motivated very very improbable. I worked at the PGH for quite a while, and it is VERY COMMON for those requesting for pRBCs (the blood) to be denied, or not given the whole allocation. While sad, this isn't an extraordinary case, and connecting it to the political ongoings in PGH is very laughable. If anything, they should have asked for blood BEFORE the operation (like what most residents do).
While I am against the machinations that put Dr. Domingo in office, this to me sounds like a blatant lie. Sadly, this is just business as usual at the PGH. I do sincerely hope that this changes for the better, but not because these kinds of lies are perpetuated. Just the facts itself of the political ongoings should be enough to cause an uproar, adding these bold-faced lies just shows me that maybe both sides are "trapos" and may be undeserving of our support.
This was factual though, so it is not a laughing matter. We do not print nor perpetuate lies, blatant or otherwise.