Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian will leave the fate of the ACE Medical Center to the Department of Health (DOH).
Gatchalian said on Monday, May 13, that the local government unit of Valenzuela City does not have the authority to cancel the license to operate a private hospital.
"Ang DOH kasi ang nag-issue ng license for these private institutions to operate," Gatchalian said during DZRH's Dos Por Dos.
"Hopefully, DOH na lang ang mag-desisyon kung tatanggalin na lang ang kanilang lisensya or ipapa-operate pa rin dito sila sa aming lugar," the local chief executive added.
Gatchalian said that he already met with Health Sec. Ted Herbosa regarding the issue with ACE Medical Center.
ACE Medical Center faces allegations of illegally detaining family members of patients who have yet to settle their medical bills.
Gatchalian confirmed that arrest warrants have been issued against the safety officer, credit collector, and security guard involved in the illegal detention in one of the cases.
He also said that the accused had posted bail.
"Unfortunately, ayon sa ating batas, doon sa slight illegal detention, at may Revised Penal Code tayo, doon lang sa perpetrator caught on the act ang makakasuhan," Gatchalian explained.
"Unfortunately, yung management ay hindi kasama sa sinampahan ng kaso," he stressed.
Gatchalian assured that Ordinance No. 1178 or the Anti-Hospital Detention Ordinance will ensure the liability of the president, chief executive orderer, managing director, and medical director of the hospital.
"Basta nandoon ka sa loob, command responsibility kaagad dito," Gatchalian stressed.
Gatchalian said that violators will face a fine worth Php 200,000 to Php 400,000 and revocation of their business permit.
