PNA-NY Press ReleasePNA-NY calls for the dismissal of the indictment of the 10 Filipino Registered Nurses and Their Attorney and Supports The Courageous Stand of the Other Sentosa 27 plus

Nurses Against Exploitation and Abuse by the Sentosa Care Group NY, NY

June 28, 2007
PNA-NY calls for the dismissal of the indictment of the 10 Filipino Registered Nurses and Their Attorney and Supports The Courageous Stand of the Other Sentosa 27 plus++ Nurses Against Exploitation and Abuse by the Sentosa Care Group
NY, NY - The Philippine Nurses Association of NY, Incorporated (PNA-NY, Inc.) expresses outrage at the exploitation and abuse of the Sentosa 27 ++ and calls for the dismissal of the indictment of ten of the nurses and their attorney, Felix Vinluan.

The group which calls themselves Sentosa 27++ Nurses ( made up of the original 26 RNs and 1 PT joined by the other nurses recruited by Sentosa who experienced the same injustices) have been treated unfairly and have struggled with unfair labor practices depriving them of due process.
On March 22, 2007, ten nurses were criminally charged with conspiracy and endangering the welfare of children and disabled persons at Avalon Gardens Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, a nursing home in Smithtown, NY and breach of contract. Their lawyer, Felix Vinluan was similarly indicted for allegedly conspiring with the nurses.

Bent Philipson, owner of Sentosa Care, LLC filed a breach of contract suit following the resignations of the nurses in April 2006. On July 5, 2006, Philipson’s claim was denied by the Supreme Court Justice hearing the case. Furthermore, he filed complaints of patient abandonment before the NY State Education Department‘s Office of Professional Discipline (NYSED’s OPD). On September 13, 2006, NYSED’s OPD, Felix Vinluan was informed that the cases against the nurses were closed and that the nurses were not guilty of abandoning their patients. Consequently, the limited permits and nursing licenses which were withheld pending a ruling on the case were released. With these two rulings in favor of the Sentosa27++ Nurses, we would like to ask the District Attorney of Suffolk County why they were indicted for the same charges.
PNA-NY salutes the Sentosa 27++ Nurses for their courage and strength to stand up against a financially and politically powerful opponent. By their actions, these nurses have opened up a Pandora box of exploitation, discrimination, abuse and violations of immigration and labor laws. In the end they are not just fighting for themselves but for the rights of all present and future foreign trained health care workers. Felix Vinluan, their lawyer has been working tirelessly defending the Sentosa 27++ nurses here in NY and the Philippines pro bono deserve support as well. We are confident that when all the facts are in, it will show that these nurses did everything in their power to exercise their professional and humane responsibilities to keep their patients safe.

PNA-NY will work hard with the other Filipino organizations and the nursing community to obtain justice for the Sentosa 27++ Nurses. It will also embark on mentoring future nurses on their rights and responsibilities through educational outreach programs. Moreover we will work for enforcement of labor and immigration laws protecting foreign trained health care professionals in general and Filipinos in particular from exploitation, both here in the United States and in the Philippines.

Lolita Compas, MA, RN, immediate past President of NYSNA, past president of PNA-NY and Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA) has led the Filipino nursing community in reaching out to the other state, national and international nursing organizations for support. Rosario May Mayor, MA, RN, current president of PNAA has mobilized the 37 chapters of the organization and will be presented at the coming Annual PNAA Convention in Anaheim, California in July. Mary Joy Garcia-Dia, MA, RN, PNA-NY President, in collaboration with PNA Eastern Region chapters, has organized a panel discussion on US immigration laws and recruitment of foreign educated and trained RNs for the 10th Eastern Regional Conference hosted by PNA Delaware Valley, Oct. 2007.

Davy Diongson, MPA, RN
Clemencia S. Wong, MEd , RN
Chairs, Legislation and Human Rights Committee
PNA-NY, Inc.