CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES — Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano said the city government has launched an investigation to determine what transpired during the March 11 incident where a 31-year-old mother died during a financial assistance verification at Barangay Opao gym.
Ouano, in a press conference today, said the probe, to be handled by the City Legal Office, aims to identify any party who may be held accountable for the death of Mary Christ Cuizon.
Medical records showed that the cause of death was cardiac arrest and neurosepsis.
Meanwhile, Ouano refuted claims that the victim was left unattended for 30 minutes after collapsing, saying such information is not true based on the city’s initial investigation. The city has already obtained CCTV footage from outside the gym provided by Barangay Opao, but said there’s no CCTV camera installed inside the facility.
The mayor also urged residents who may have recorded videos of the incident to submit them to the City Legal Office, noting that such footage would help piece together a complete and accurate timeline of events.
Further, Ouano said the city government will provide ₱49,000 in financial assistance to Cuizon’s family. He also pledged to provide employment to the victim’s father to help support the four children she left behind.
| Written by Kristin de Dios
