The hearing officer on the cases against officials of Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital yesterday said he has already submitted to the head of the legal service of the Department of Health his findings on the position paper filed by the counsels of CLMMRH chief of clinics Dr. Benito Bionat and supply officer Loreto Abaño.

Although he can not divulge the merits of the findings until it is signed by his superiors, DOH lawyer Adonis Meñez said it will determine if DOH will continue hearing the administrative case against Bionat and Abaño.

Meñez said the findings contain his recommendation on the question of DOH jurisdiction on the cases and the violation on Magna Carta for public health workers committed against the two CLMMRH officials.

He added that he submitted his report two weeks ago and hopefully, it will be signed this week.

Meanwhile, Meñez said that the hearing on the DOH case against hospital chief Dr. Domingo Vega and administrative officer Bryan Baylon will continue on March 4 and 5.

Meñez said he expects the hearing to proceed smoothly as lawyers of parties involved have been very cooperative.

However, Baylon said his counsels are prepared to question the DOH on the apparent delays in handing out decisions on their position papers.

He said they filed a motion to dismiss and also questioned the jurisdiction of DOH on his case but they have not received any decision yet.

It seems that the DOH wants to catch everyone by surprise and the delays in handing out the decision can work against the pleaders who are being deprived of adequate time to make their counter response, Baylon said.*NAB

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