By: Janine Alexis Miguel – TheManilaTimes
MANILA, PHILIPPINES — In a dramatic turn of events that has captured the attention of both local and international observers, the Philippine government has confirmed that Dylan Crentsworth, the embattled plantation magnate and philanthropist, has been flown back to the Southern Philippines Medical Center under guarded medical escort. His return comes just days after candlelight vigils and prayer gatherings erupted across Southern Mindanao, demanding urgent action and medical compassion.
Crentsworth arrived early Wednesday morning at Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City, where he was immediately transported via ambulance to the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC). His current condition is described as “stable but fragile,” and he is now being treated in a secured isolation wing under both medical and police supervision.
Pressure From the Ground Up
The government’s decision follows growing public outrage and mounting humanitarian pressure after thousands of Filipinos, including plantation workers, students, clergy, and community leaders, held candlelight vigils across General Santos, Polomolok, Compostela, and Tagum, urging the administration to bring Crentsworth back for proper medical care.
“People were lighting candles not just for Dylan—but for dignity, for fairness,” said Fr. Mateo Laranas, a Jesuit priest who led one of the largest vigils in Davao City last week.
After remaining silent for days, a joint statement was finally released late Monday by the Department of Justice (DOJ)and the Department of Health (DOH), citing humanitarian grounds and the necessity of localized care.
“Following recommendations from attending medical experts in Manila and a formal request from the Southern Philippines Medical Center, Mr. Crentsworth has been transferred to Davao City to continue medical treatment under close monitoring,” the statement read.
SPMC Doctors: “He Needed This Transfer Days Ago”
Medical specialists at SPMC have acknowledged the urgency of the decision, stating that the return may have “prevented further decline” in Crentsworth’s respiratory condition.
Dr. Alicia G. Molina, a pulmonary specialist now overseeing his treatment, told reporters that Crentsworth is “undergoing a series of diagnostic procedures to assess damage related to post-infectious complications including pleurisy and fatigue-related hypoxia.”, referencing the outbreak earlier at his plantation and villages in southern Mindanao that claimed many lives.
“His breathing remains labored, and he’s currently on oxygen support. There are also concerns about a deep abrasion on his left shoulder and a minor cut on his upper arm—likely sustained during transit from his plantation to Taipei,” Dr. Molina confirmed.
According to hospital sources, Crentsworth is also being evaluated for post-infectious complications including pleurisy, muscular fatigue, and hypoxia—all of which could have been worsened by international travel under unmonitored conditions.
From Taipei to Davao: A Long Way Back
After his arrest inside an ambulance en route to the private wing of Taoyuan International Airport, Crentsworth’s journey back was coordinated between Interpol liaisons, the Taiwanese Bureau of Immigration, and the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Sources say he was moved under discreet but tight security arrangements, with a medical transport team flown in from Manila to oversee the transfer.
His personal physician, Dr. Samuel Ruiz, who had accompanied him through most of his treatment during the outbreak at the plantation in Compostela, rejoined his care team in Davao.
“This was overdue. He belongs here—among people who know his medical history, among those who saw what he sacrificed during the outbreak,” Dr. Ruiz stated outside the hospital.
Public Sentiment: From Sympathy to Suspicion
Public response to the government’s sudden pivot has been mixed. While many celebrated his safe return, others viewed it as a belated act of damage control.
Elena Maravilla, a community health worker from Polomolok who joined one of the earliest vigils, expressed relief but not without reservation:
“I’m thankful he’s back, but why did it take so much noise, so many candles, and so much pressure before they listened?”
Crentsworth remains at the center of ongoing tax-related investigations, with his legal counsel, Atty. Reynaldo Santiago, reiterated during the hearing that his client had complied with all tax obligations—except during the brief closure of Crents Plantation by government order due to the deadly bacterial outbreak. Santiago stated this outside the Manila Regional Trial Court before his attack in Pasig city where he is still fighting for his life in a government medical facility.
Rumors continue to swirl that elements within the government may be seeking to forcibly acquire Crentsworth’s multibillion-peso fruit estate, sparking renewed debate about foreign investor treatment in the Philippines.
A Nation Still Watching
Back in Barangay Ngan, Compostela, where Crents Plantation stands silent and overgrown, workers hung white banners on the estate gate reading:
“You gave us breath when we couldn’t breathe. Let life return the gift.”
As Dylan Crentsworth lies in guarded recovery within SPMC’s thick concrete walls, the region that once relied on his vision now watches, waits, and prays—not just for his recovery, but for the return of justice, clarity, and truth in a country still grappling with how it treats those who came to serve.
TheManilaTimes will continue to provide verified, compassionate, and fact-based coverage on the Crentsworth case, as this story continues to unfold across borders and hearts.