Fontana: No link to fake COVID hospital

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines — The Fontana Development Corp. (FDC) yesterday said it was not involved in the operation of a clandestine hospital in Fontana Leisure Parks said to be catering to Chinese citizens infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

In a letter addressed to the Clark Development Corp.(CDC), FDC said the villa where the hospital was discovered had “long been transferred” to Shidaikeji Technology Corp., a longtime locator at the Clark Freeport Zone.

“Fontana has no control over the property or the operations therein,” FDC assistant general manager Simon Wu said.

Fontana said Shidaikeji has been using the villa to attend to the needs of their employees, adding that the corporation is not operating a medical facility. 

FDC claimed the two foreigners arrested within the property on Tuesday were released on the same day with no charges filed.

Hu Ling and Lee Seung Hyun, alleged supervisor and pharmacist, respectively, of the medical facility, were arrested during a raid by agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

The raiding team said various drugs with Chinese markings and hospital wastes, such as syringes, were recovered at the scene.

The CIDG said tracker teams would locate those who were treated in the facility so they could be brought to legitimate hospitals or quarantine facilities for proper treatment. It said charges would be filed against the suspects.

The CDC said the management of Fontana would also be held accountable for the illegal operation of the hospital.