BY GENALYN KABILING
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THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has launched an investigation into the death of a police doctor while working at a government-run quarantine facility, President Duterte said in his report to ConÂgress.
The President said Police Captain Casey Gutierrez, M.D., died after allegedly inÂhaling chemical substances at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City last week.
The sports arena, popuÂlarly known as Ultra, is one of the facilities converted into temporary quarantine centers for coronavirus paÂtients.
Gutierrez, 31, reportedly had breathing trouble while undergoing the decontamÂination protocol at PhilÂSports Arena in Pasig City last March 24. He was rushed to the hospital and died the next day.
Two days later, two more policemen reportedly sufÂfered difficulty in breathing after undergoing the same decontamination process at the site.
The PhilSports arena is one of the two PNP-manned COVID-19 quarantine faciliÂties aside from the PhilipÂpine International ConvenÂtion Center (PICC).
Apart from the death of the police doctor, the PresiÂdent mentioned other invesÂtigations being conducted by the NBI in relation to the coronavirus response.
He said 43 hospitals loÂcated in Metro Manila, Nueva Ecija, Laguna and Rizal are under investigation for alÂlegedly refusing to admit patients.
An investigation on the alleged overpricing by OmÂnibus Bio-Medical Systems, Inc. and Sansure Biotech of the Automated Nucleic Acid Extraction Machines they supplied is also underway, Duterte said.
He said the NBI is likewise looking into the alleged anomalous distribution of financial assistance to afÂfected sectors.