Elderly names senators ‘insensitive’ to the poor

This refers to the letter, titled “Senators and the poor” (Inquirer, 2/11/12) of Sammy Santos, director of the Senate Print Media, Public Relations and Information Bureau. Santos’ letter was his answer to my letter, “Senators are clueless about the sufferings of the poor.” (Inquirer, 1/18/12)

First of all, my surname was erroneously typewritten as “Darwin.” My correct full name is Rodolfo Datuin, a senior citizen and now resident of Bagbag, Novaliches, Quezon City. I wrote Santos the full explanation on Feb. 14, 2012 via registered mail, and I told him that among the senators seemingly unconcerned and indifferent to the poor are Vicente Sotto III, the siblings Pia and Allan Cayetano, Ramon Revilla Jr., Aquilino Pimentel III, Teofisto Guingona III. The last letter-request for medical assistance was sent by registered or priority mail to the above-mentioned senators and was dated Nov. 29, 2011, according to Santos.

I personally went to the office of Lino Ong of the Senate Public Assistance Center on Feb. 14, 2012. But to my despair and disappointment, Ong gave me a letter-guarantee from the office of Sen. Franklin Drilon.

The letter-guarantee worth P3,000 for medicine for emphysema was of no value and useless because when I presented it to the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City, I was told  that the pharmacy didn’t have the medicines listed on the doctor’s prescription. The pharmacist even told me that I would have to pass through the resident doctor to get medicine “by installment”—that is, if there was available supply. The Lung Center can only give me Biogesic or paracetamol which is not even my medicine.

I thought all along that with the senators’ help, I can buy medicines for my emphysema and for my eye cataract, which was operated free on Dec. 22, 2011, courtesy of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim. After my eye operation, I was left hanging in the air for lack of medicines. I borrowed money just to complete the requirements needed. I spent almost five months from October 2011 up to February 2012 to wait for the assistance of the senators.

I cannot buy medicine with “paper tigers” like letter-guarantees, and I thought that by seeking the assistance of our good senators, I could buy my medicine at Mercury drug stores or elsewhere for my eye cataract, emphysema and other lingering ailment. To my big disappointment and frustration, these senators, despite my repeated written request for assistance, never responded to my request.

Their indifference and insensitivity reflect the kind of Senate we have.

—RODOLFO DATUIN,

Bagbag, Novaliches,

Quezon City