Fake nurse taking care of COVID patient in Ecija nabbed
SAN ANTONIO, Nueva Ecjija — Police operatives wearing anti-COVID-19 protective gear arrested a 34-year-old woman who allegedly pretended to be a licensed nurse in taking care of a 51-year-old recovered COVID-19 patient here.
Nabbed was Claudia Castro, alias Claudia Sansales, single, of Bgy. Bungo, Gapan City.
Police head Major Roderick N. Corpuz said the suspect was collared at 5:30 p.m. Saturday following a complaint from Marichor Clemente, 37, of Camias St., Bgy. San Francisco, this town.
The area was first disinfected before lawmen clad in personal protective equipment entered the premises, it was learned.
Investigation showed Marichor’s brother-in-law Rexie Clemente sought police help in arresting the suspect.
Staff Sgt. Lennen Miranda, officer-on-case, said Marichor learned about the suspect’s supposed fake credentials after their private doctor Erwin Roque, of Angeles City, Pampanga informed her about it.
Miranda said the suspect was hired by the victim for a daily rate of P8,000 to take care of a recovered COVID-19 patient. She started to work on Sept. 20 until her arrest on Sept. 25 inside Clemente’s house.
“12k (P12,000) nga po ang unang usapan, kaso tumawad po si complainant kaya bumaba sa 8k (P8,000) per day ang rate,” Miranda told this reporter in a text message.
“Nag-aalaga po siya ng patient na may COVID na recovered na po, 13 days na naka-quarantine sa house under strict medication ng private doctor,” added Miranda.
He said that Dr. Roque inquired through legal government websites of listed registered nurses and was able to establish that the suspect was not licensed.
Miranda said the doctor got suspicious about the suspect’s credentials when the latter could not comprehend the medical terms and procedures she was told to do including the checking of vital signs of the patient during their on-line conversations.
He said the arrested suspect is set to undergo inquest proceedings for swindling (estafa) at the provincial prosecutor’s office Sunday while she is scheduled to undergo antigen-testing on Monday.
