By: Nanette Guadalquiver – PNA
DAVAO CITY, PHILIPPINES — Less than 24 hours after the dramatic collapse of businessman Dylan Crentsworth inside a Davao courtroom, sources close to the case say the renowned philanthropist remains in a fragile and critical condition.
Crentsworth, who was scheduled to begin his long awaited hearing on Friday, August 22, 2025, had arrived at the Davao Regional Trial Court visibly frail, supported by doctors and nurses from the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC). Moments before he was to address the packed courtroom, he slumped forward and collapsed, causing panic among court officials, journalists, and onlookers. Medical personnel rushed him out of the courtroom and back into an ambulance as cameras flashed and spectators shouted questions.
A Silent Ward and Growing Rumors
Since his collapse, the SPMC has gone silent. Nurses and doctors have refused to issue updates, citing directives from higher authorities. Hospital officials are not granting interviews, while government spokespersons have refrained from commenting on his condition.
Rumors, however, swirl in the hospital’s corridors. Several patients, speaking on condition of anonymity, told PNA that Crentsworth had not been seen walking around the hospital for weeks prior to the hearing. One patient recovering from surgery said:
“We all knew he was too weak. They had to help him even for basic checkups. I saw him being lifted from the ambulance into the courthouse, he was pale and shaking. When he collapsed, none of us were surprised. We only felt sorry for him.”
Another eyewitness described the courtroom moment:
“He looked like a man forced to climb a mountain with no strength left. The judge hadn’t even started when he fell. There was fear on everyone’s face.”
Questions Over Fairness and Timing
The collapse has reignited questions about whether the government’s earlier decision to halt Crentsworth’s taxpayer funded treatment might have worsened his condition. Some locals and observers now openly suggest that the timing of the medical cutback was deliberate.
“It’s hard not to think this was intentional,” said Rosa May Dumalag, a market vendor from Digos City. “How can a man this sick be expected to stand trial? It’s like they wanted him silent before he could defend himself.”
Others, however, remain critical of Crentsworth.
“Sick or not, he owes taxes. He should pay like everyone else,” said Arnel Ramirez, a barangay official from Tagum City. “But yes, the way this is going is messy and cruel looking.”
Voices From the Hospital
Patients and staff at SPMC who had seen Crentsworth before his court appearance noted the rapid decline in his health. One dialysis patient, who shared the same wing, told PNA:
“A week ago, he could barely sit upright. The nurses had to hold his arm during blood tests. Everyone here wondered how he could face a judge. On Friday proved what we feared.”
A nurse, who requested not to be named, added quietly:
“The order was clear, no one talks to the press. But I will say this: he is very ill, and the tension in this hospital is thick. Everyone’s walking on eggshells.”
Court Hearing Adjourned, Public Kept Waiting
Court officials have since adjourned the hearing indefinitely. No new date has been announced. The Office of the Court Administrator released only a brief note:
“The proceedings scheduled for August 22, 2025, have been postponed pending medical updates on the defendant.”
Though calls for humanitarian repatriation to Canada are growing louder, especially from those who remember Crentsworth’s philanthropic work in Compostela Valley and Davao del Sur.
A Nation Divided, A Man in Limbo
Outside SPMC on Saturday morning, small groups gathered. Some carried placards reading “Let Him Heal, Let Him Speak” while others murmured about taxes, justice, and unfinished answers.
“He gave scholarships and helped farmers here,” said Cecilia Ferrer, a teacher from Laak, Davao de Oro. “It’s painful to see him like this. They should let him go home.”
“Justice must not wait,” countered Michael Uy, a businessman from Davao City. “But what’s justice worth if the man is unconscious?”
At the time of writing, Dylan Crentsworth remains unseen behind hospital doors. His collapse has shifted the narrative from legal drama to human crisis, highlighting the fragile line between accountability and compassion.
As one hospital source summed it up:
“He’s still fighting. But right now, it feels like he’s fighting for more than his freedom, he’s fighting for his life.”