‘I don’t play favorites’ – Mejia

R1MC Director Joseph Roland Mejia (2nd from Left)
with President  Benigno Aquino III (3rd from
Left).

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

 DAGUPAN CITY - The director of the Region-1 Medical Center assailed some media men who accused him of being biased to some patients. “Some reporters are uninformed. Their conclusion is not educated. They should be asking us first before they start their baseless criticism of the R1MC,” Dr. Joseph Roland Mejia stressed.
 He said most of the patients confined at the 300 beds hospital were poor who could not afford to pay their bills.
To solve this dilemma, he said the hospital bankrolls their bills from payment of rich patients and from the government funds intended for the indigents deposited by elective public officials. “Before ini-explain namin sa mga pasyente na kinukuha namin ang pondo na binabayad sa kanila ay pondo ng mga taong ito. Bahala na sila na tumanaw ng utang na loob sa kanila,” he said. He cited the following government officials who fund the medical expenses of the indigents.
They are President Aquino, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, Health Secretary Enrique Ona, Reps Gina de Venecia (Fourth District), Marlyn P. Agabas (Sixth District), Rachel Arenas (Third District), Jesus Celeste (First District) and Leopoldo Bataoil (Second District).
He did not deny that Alaminos City Mayor and losing gubernatorial bet Hernani Braganza is his cousin. “Hindi ko ginusto na pinsan ko siya nagkataon lang na politico si Nani Braganza. Joe de Venecia was the first cousin ng wife ko kaya pinsan ko si Manay Gina (de Venecia). (Vice Governor) Ferdie Calimlim whose father is my cousin is a relative. (Vice gubernatorial candidate ) Art Lomibao is my relative, too. Mga magkamag-anak kami,” he explained. He denied that he campaigned for certain candidates on the concluded May 13 poll. “Bawal iyan!” he quipped