By Vhioly Rosatazo
MANILA – A lawmaker from Bulacan’s sixth district has refiled a measure seeking to prohibit hospitals, medical facilities, morgues, and funeral service providers from withholding the remains of deceased persons due to unpaid medical or funeral expenses.
Congressman Salvador Aquino Pleyto recently refiled House Bill No. 3002, which aims to protect the dignity of the deceased and ease the burden on grieving families who lack the immediate financial means to settle hospital or funeral costs.
Pleyto said the proposed measure is intended to ensure that funerals and burials are not delayed simply because families are unable to pay outstanding bills at the time of death.
“The purpose of this bill is to uphold basic human decency by protecting the dignity of our departed Filipino compatriots and extending compassion to bereaved families facing financial hardship,” he said.
The lawmaker stressed the urgency of passing the measure, noting that while existing laws have strengthened protections for living patients against abusive billing practices, similar safeguards for the deceased remain lacking.
“When a family loses a loved one, they are at their most vulnerable. Denying them access to the body of a parent, spouse, or child because of unpaid balances is not merely a financial issue—it is a violation of human dignity and cultural values,” Pleyto said.
He clarified that the bill does not seek to absolve families of their financial obligations to hospitals or service providers, acknowledging that these institutions must remain operational and financially viable.
“However, a human body should never be treated as collateral,” he emphasized.
House Bill No. 3002 is among several proposed measures in Congress that seek to end the practice of detaining cadavers over unsettled bills, which lawmakers say inflicts unnecessary emotional distress on grieving families.
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