BY FELIPE CELINO
ROXAS City — The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) may conduct a parallel investigation on the death of six-year-old Jen Fred Aranzado, a provincial government official said.
Earlier, the SP approved a resolution that requested Gov. Victor Tanco Sr. to investigate the death of Aranzado.
The resolution, authored by SP member Remia Bartolome, is now at the Office of the Governor, said Provincial Legal Office (PLO) chief Jose Villanueva.
Villanueva, the concurrent provincial administrator, said the PLO received the SP’s request on Wednesday afternoon.
He said his office has started the investigation on the boy’s death before the SP came up with the resolution.
Jen Fred Aranzado of Brgy. Majanlud, Sapian died on the eve of New Year’s Day at the Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital (RMPH) allegedly due to negligence.
Dr. Delmar Brodeth, a surgeon at the RMPH, was the “surgeon-on-call” at the time. Dr. Ma. Celinni Bauson, acting chief of RMPH, relieved him from his duties and responsibilities upon the order of Tanco.
Brodeth did not appear or respond for about nine hours when Aranzado was confined in RMPH, according to Villanueva.
The surgeon’s contract of services will not be renewed pending investigation by the Office of the Governor, he said.
In a memorandum, Tanco also directed Bauson for the immediate total revamp of the entire personnel assigned to the admitting section, emergency room and outpatient department of the state-run hospital.
The course of action is without prejudice to whatever findings the investigation may come up, which will be the subject of an appropriate administrative action, the memorandum said.
Brodeth, on the other hand, said the Capiz media was misinformed about the issue.
He told Panay News in a text message on Tuesday that he is willing to be interviewed so he can explain his side and clear his name.
He said he asked clearance from the provincial government to grant media interviews.
“Right now, I am waiting for the reply from the Capiz Provincial Capitol before giving statements to the media, considering that the case is presently under investigation,” Brodeth said. “I’m willing and eager to answer the issue.”
Aranzado’s father, Rene, said his son will be buried tomorrow at the Sapian Catholic Cemetery.
