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National Center for Mental Health chief, employee shot dead in QC

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Gillan Ropero and Jeff Hernaez, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/07/27/car.jpg"/><figcaption>Police found National Center for Mental Health director Roland Cortez and employee Ernesto dela Cruz dead from multiple gunshot wounds inside a vehicle in Barangay Culiat, Quezon City early Monday. Doland Castro, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA (2nd UPDATE) - The director of the National Center for Mental Health and another employee were gunned down early Monday in Barangay Culiat, Quezon City, police said.Police on patrol found Dr. Roland Cortez and NCMH employee Ernesto dela Cruz dead with gunshot wounds inside a red sedan parked on the corner of Cassanova Drive and Tandang Sora Avenue, said Staff Sgt. Rowen Insecto of the QC Police District Station 3.Cortez had multiple gunshot wounds, according to his wife, said Dr. Elpidio Nolasco, who works under the NCMH director&#x27;s office.A tricycle driver said gunmen onboard a motorcycle knocked on the victims&#x27; vehicle and shot at them as they opened the door. The assailants then fled towards Commonwealth Avenue, according to the initial police report.Investigation is ongoing.The Department of Health (DOH) said it was coordinating with authorities to &quot;ensure the perpetrators are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.&quot;&quot;The DOH family extends its deepest condolences to the families of Dr. Roland and Mr. Ernesto. Dr. Cortez was a respected leader who sought to treat clients with utmost dignity,&quot; it said in a statement.&quot;The DOH denounces all violent acts committed against health care workers, especially during these difficult times.&quot;Cortez was head of the NCMH as it drew criticism over its handling of COVID-19 cases in the facility earlier this year. In April, he denied a hospital executive&#x27;s claims that the Mandaluyong-based facility was covering up its number of COVID-19 cases.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/09/20/national-center-for-mental-health-chief-denies-cover-ups-on-covid-19-cases">National Center for Mental Health chief denies cover-ups on COVID-19 cases</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/08/20/national-center-for-mental-health-hits-official-who-spoke-about-facilitys-covid-19-response">National Center for Mental Health hits official who spoke about facility&#x27;s COVID-19 response</a></li></ul>Last month, Cortez said all of the hospital’s 3,200 patients and 2,435 staff were free from COVID-19.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/18/20/ncmh-announces-zero-covid-19-cases-for-the-first-time">NCMH announces zero COVID-19 cases for the first time</a></li></ul>The NCMH is a special research training center and hospital licensed by the Department of Health and accredited by PhilHealth. It has an authorized bed capacity of 4,200 inpatients and served an average of 56,000 outpatients per year.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/08/20/filipinos-seeking-mental-health-counseling-spiked-during-lockdown-support-providers">Filipinos seeking mental health counseling spiked during lockdown - support providers</a></li></ul>

The director of the National Center for Mental Health was gunned down early Monday in Barangay Culiat, Quezon City, police said.

The director of the National Center for Mental Health was gunned down early Monday in Barangay Culiat, Quezon City, police said.

National Center for Mental Health chief, employee shot dead in QC

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National Center for Mental Health chief, employee shot dead in QC

Gillan Ropero and Jeff Hernaez,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 27, 2020 02:18 PM PHT

|

Updated Jul 27, 2020 03:26 PM PHT

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National Center for Mental Health

Roland Cortez

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NCMH chief Roland Cortez

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