Guv, probe team asked to inhibit in doc's case
Governor Niel Tupas, Sr. and members of the Fact-Finding Team tasked to investigate the administrative case against a hospital chief have been asked to inhibit themselves on the process. And in the spirit of fair play and justice, the aggrieved party thru counsel further moved for the Civil Service Commission (CSC) as the proper investigator instead of the Capitol.
Such was the position submitted to the Office of the Governor by Dr. George Acepcion of the Ramon Tabiana Memorial District Hospital (RTMDH) in Cabatuan, Iloilo. Contained in a six-page Motion to Inhibit, the beleaguered hospital chief aided by counsel, noted Ilonggo lawyer Pablo Nava III averred that bias is evident on the present set-up with latest (mis)developments showing "irresponsibility, partiality and distorted sense of fairness" from one of the probers.
Further still, the Governor's inhibition as sought was also justified "in order to safeguard the cardinal rights of Dr. Acepcion and administer justice on the complaint."
"The objectivity of the Fact Finding Committee, especially the persons of Mr. Mario Nillos, Dr. Patricia Grace Trabado and Ms Alma Ravena is highly questionable," excerpts of the Motion to Inhibit as obtained by The News Today (TNT) stated. "Evidence in the records is suffocatingly abundant that their line of questioning during the investigation insinuates and leads witnesses to dwell on the negative aspects of Dr. Acepcion."
Acepcion stands as sole respondent in Administrative Case No. 2006-01 for disgraceful and immoral conduct and oppression. The matter first got the Governor's attention after a letter-complaint was sent to his office last February 27th. The day after, Tupas issued Executive Order No. 060 creating a Fact-Finding Committee "to determine the necessary appropriate action to be taken on the said matter." Yet even before the Governor's order was received by committee members, a visit was already made to the hospital where a woman employee complained that she was accosted by the group and forced to admit her supposed relationship with Dr. Acepcion.
"Reminiscent of Hitler's Gestapo," the respondent-doctor went on in the Motion to Inhibit while adding that "In the course of the subsequent proceedings, the partiality of the Fact-Finding Committee is becoming unbearable and plain as day."
Backing up Acepcion's latest rebuttal was a number of affidavits from hospital workers among which was one disclosure of a hospital staff on the misrepresentation made to them regarding the attendance sheet.
This woman witness said what she and other co-workers signed was the attendance sheet for a meeting yet to their surprise, was used as attachment to a petition against Acepcion.
"All we want is for Dr. Acepcion to be given a fair treatment here," Nava ended.
Meantime two Committee members face raps for possible violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act relative to their handling of the Acepcion case. In the case of Committee chairman Trabado, at least three hospital workers came out to confirm the birthday treat given to her by Dr. Acepcion's detractor in the very premises of the hospital. Ravena on the other hand was deemed by Acepcion to have committed bias, prejudice and partiality.
Acepcion is presently under 60-day suspension as ordered by Governor Tupas following the result of investigation of the Fact-Finding Committee finding him liable of the charges.