Un-Holy hospital
By Pet Melliza / The Beekeeper/ November 22, 2021 ILOILO CITY - A mother and her 17-day old baby languish in detention - not in any jail facility, but of all places - in a hospital that sports the lofty imageries of “holiness”, “motherhood”, “women’s and children’s” welfare, whatever. Yes, the Holy Mary Women and Children Hospital just did, rather, is still doing that as of this writing to Sherryl Faliseo Hijalda, 34 and her baby. For all intents and purposes, she and her little angel are its detainees; both are held against their will in violation of Republic Act 9439, enacted 18 years ago, November 27, 2007. The Holy Mary Women and and Children’s Hospital at Pavia, Iloilo has sentenced them to indefinite detention for unpaid bills. That, too in effect, condemns them indefinitely to face harsher terms for their way out from forcible detention until they shall have paid their balance. The “holy” hospital bills the mother and baby P1,900 daily for room rental. The baby is the fourth f