Tumauini hospital breaks silence on viral ambulance complaint: ‘Patient was not refused transport’

Hospital says ambulance needed fuel after multiple trips; driver allegedly sought an immediate way to bring patient to CVMC

TUMAUINI, Isabela — The Tumauini Community Hospital (TCH) has issued an explanation following a viral social media complaint alleging that its ambulance refused to transport a patient to the Cagayan Valley Medical Center (CVMC) because of insufficient diesel.

In its official statement released on August 14, 2026, TCH denied that the patient was refused transport and said its investigation showed that the ambulance needed additional fuel after making several patient transfers that day.

The statement came two days after RaicyRica Lugo Domingo posted about her experience on August 12 regarding an incident that occurred in the early morning of July 19.

TCH: Ambulance was not refused

In her post, Domingo said she and her husband went to the RHU Tumauini early on July 19 to request transportation to CVMC because her husband was having difficulty breathing.

She alleged that they were told to wait for the ambulance driver and that the driver later said the ambulance did not have enough diesel.

According to Domingo, the driver allegedly told them that the Local Government Unit (LGU) had not provided fuel for two weeks.

“ang sabi nya samin.. 2WEEKS NA DAW WALANG BlNIBIGAY na pang krudo ang LGU.. (so para saan ang mga ambulansya ng rhu.. pang display?)”

She also alleged that the driver told them to use a “kulong-kulong” instead of the ambulance to travel to Cagayan.

In a follow-up comment, Domingo reiterated what she said the driver told them:

“hanggang ngayon parang umaalingawngaw pa sa pandinig ko ang sabi ng driver ng ambulansya.. MAGKULUNG KULONG nalang daw kami sabay turu sa ginamit naming motor papunta sa hospital”

Domingo said they eventually used their motorcycle to travel to the hospital.

Following the circulation of the post, TCH, in coordination with the Municipal Government of Tumauini, conducted an investigation into the incident.

The hospital said Domingo was invited to participate in the investigation and that its August 14 statement was issued to clarify the circumstances surrounding the complaint.

TCH addressed the claims involving the ambulance’s diesel supply, the alleged “kulong-kulong” remark, the availability of nurses, and personnel reportedly seen resting inside the facility.

Hospital says ambulance needed fuel

TCH directly disputed the allegation that its driver refused to transport the patient.

“Hindi tinanggihan ng driver ang pagbiyahe ng pasyente kundi humanap ito ng agarang paraan upang maihatid ang pasyente sa CVMC gamit ang ambulansiya.”

The hospital explained that the ambulance needed additional diesel after making several trips that day, while the LGU gasoline station was already closed.

According to TCH records, the ambulance had already transported patients twice to CVMC and twice to Saint Matthias Hospital on July 19.

Because the ambulance needed additional fuel for another trip, the driver reportedly suggested that Domingo temporarily pay for the diesel, with the amount to be reimbursed the following day.

TCH said the official receipt was issued under the LGU’s name so the expense could be properly recorded and processed for reimbursement.

The hospital maintained that the driver was attempting to find an immediate way to facilitate the patient’s transport to CVMC rather than refusing the trip.

TCH denies two-week fuel shortage

The hospital also disputed Domingo’s claim that the ambulance had gone two weeks without receiving diesel from the LGU.

TCH said its ambulances regularly obtain fuel from the LGU gasoline station.

According to the hospital, the driver denied making the statement that no diesel had been provided for two weeks.

The hospital said the ambulance needed additional fuel on July 19 after completing several patient transfers, while the LGU gasoline station was already closed.

Hospital explains nurse assistance

TCH also addressed Domingo’s claim that no nurse assisted them while they were seeking help for her husband.

According to the hospital, six medical personnel were on duty at the time of the incident.

TCH said one nurse approached Domingo to determine her concern and instructed her to bring the patient inside the facility, which the hospital said was in accordance with protocol.

However, according to TCH, Domingo indicated that what they needed was an ambulance.

The nurse then called the ambulance driver to speak with Domingo before returning to the second floor to continue monitoring patients.

TCH said Domingo confirmed during the investigation that this was what happened.

Hospital explains employee seen resting

The hospital also responded to the claim that Domingo saw a hospital employee sleeping while they were seeking assistance.

TCH said the nurses and nursing attendants on duty were conducting rounds and monitoring patients on the second floor.

According to the hospital, the person Domingo saw resting was a utility staff member who had briefly rested before returning to work at around 3 a.m.

TCH cites previous assistance to patient

TCH also provided context on its previous services to Domingo’s husband between 2024 and 2026.

According to the hospital, the patient had been confined at TCH on several occasions and received hospitalization, medicines, laboratory services, and X-ray services without charge.

The hospital said that when the patient later became an outpatient, he was immediately referred to CVMC for further evaluation and management.

However, TCH said the family did not proceed with the referral at that time and Domingo signed a Hospital Against Medical Advice (HAMA) waiver.

The hospital further said its ambulance had transported the patient to CVMC several times for medical consultations.

It also said the ambulance had been used to pick up the patient from CVMC and bring him back to his home in Tumauini.

“Marami na ring pagkakataong naihatid ng TCH ambulance ang pasyente sa CVMC para sa kanyang medical consultation. Nagamit na rin ng TCH ambulance upang sunduin ang pasyente mula sa CVMC at iuwi ito sa kanilang bahay sa Tumauini. Lahat po ito ay walang bayad,” explained TCH.

According to TCH, its ambulance had repeatedly transported the patient to CVMC for medical consultations and had also brought him home from the medical center to Tumauini without charge.

The hospital likewise said the patient had previously received hospitalization, medicines, laboratory procedures, and X-ray services from TCH without payment.

TCH said these previous services and encounters were confirmed by Domingo during the investigation.

Online comments add to controversy

The August 12 post also drew comments from other social media users who shared their own experiences involving hospital services.

One commenter alleged that patients with connections to hospital staff were attended to more quickly and raised concerns about patients being instructed to purchase medicines outside the facility, cliaming that:

“Naranasan din namin yan Modus na ata nila yan lalo kung may Naka admit sa pamilya mo tapos bibigyan ka ng reseta pagpunta mo sa kuhanan ng gamot titingnan ka muna ng Naka asign dun dahil kahit meron yung gamot na nakalagay sa reseta pag hindi ka kilala dun sa labas nya ipapabili sayo. Paano nalang kung walang pang bili sa labas? Samantalang nung pagbalik ko halos parehas lang kami ng binigay na reseta nung isang tao nun na meron din pasyente pero dyan lang din sa loob nya nakuha. Number 1 na pansin ko dyan sa hospital na yan yung yung sistemang palakasan na kapag kilala ka ng mga staff dyan ambilis mo maasikaso pero kung wala kang kakilala dyan kahit pa halos lagutan kana ng hininga sasabihin sayong mag antay ka lang wala pa kasi si doc. Haha bulok!!!”

Another commenter also shared an account involving a patient seeking medical assistance at the hospital, alleging that:

“Meron din akong nadaanan jan. Sakto'ng bumili ako ng gamot kay jack drugstore. May matandang lalaki na hindi mapakali kasi may sakit yung anak niyang babae, pag pasok daw nila sa loob ng hospital tinanong kung meron yung doctor na doctor para sa sakit ng anak niya. Pero sabi nung nakausap nung matanda wala daw yung doctor naka off duty daw sabi nung kausap ng matanda, tapos sakto kilala naman nung...”

These comments represent the commenters’ personal accounts and were not independently established as part of the July 19 incident.

Two sides, one viral complaint

The controversy has centered on conflicting accounts of what happened during the early morning of July 19.

Domingo’s August 12 post alleged that the ambulance lacked diesel and that the driver told them to use a “kulong-kulong” to travel to Cagayan.

TCH’s August 14 statement disputed those claims, saying the ambulance had already completed several patient transfers that day and needed additional diesel while the LGU gasoline station was closed.

The hospital also maintained that the driver did not refuse to transport the patient and that medical personnel were on duty and attending to patients at the time.

TCH said its official statement was issued to provide the public with the results of its investigation and clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The controversy has since sparked wider discussion online about ambulance availability, emergency assistance, fuel arrangements, and the delivery of medical services in Tumauini.

For now, the patient’s family and the hospital have presented their respective accounts, with TCH maintaining that its ambulance was not refused but that its personnel were trying to find a way to facilitate the patient’s transfer despite the fuel situation.