Charges eyed vs Fontana over COVID hospital

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga, Philippines  – Criminal charges will be filed against the Fontana Development Corp. (FDC) for allegedly allowing the operation of an illegal medical facility for Chinese afflicted with coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19, authorities said yesterday.

The charges will be filed as soon as the Central Luzon police receives a complete report from the Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Administration on the status of the makeshift hospital, according to Col. Amante Daro, chief of the regional police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit.

Police recovered Chinese medicine allegedly used in treating patients infected with COVID-19 following a raid on the hospital last week.

Hospital staff Hu Ling and Lee Sheong Hyun were arrested and released shortly after the raid.

They were placed under the custody of Shidaijeki Technology Corp., which leased the FDC space for hospital use.

A Chinese patient was found in the hospital, but Daro did not say where the patient was brought after the raid.

The FDC denied any involvement in the operation of the hospital.

In a letter addressed to Clark Development Corp. president Noel Manankil, the FDC said it does not condone any illegal activity in their property.

It said the alleged villa where the hospital was discovered had long been converted into a residential property and leased to the Shidaikeji Technology Corp., a major locator at the Clark Freeport Zone.

But sources said that in January, the FDC requested the CDC to allow it to run a medical clinic exclusive for Chinese workers of Philippine offshore gaming operators.