By: Janine Alexis Miguel – TheManilaTimes
DAVAO CITY, PHILIPPINES — For the first time since his collapse in court weeks ago, wealthy philanthropist and plantation magnate Dylan Crentsworth was seen earlier today inside the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), undergoing what hospital insiders described as “imaging and diagnostic testing.”
Witnesses said he was visibly weak but conscious as he was escorted by two nurses and a physician through the hospital’s east wing toward the imaging laboratory. The sight of him moving again, even supported, drew audible gasps and spontaneous applause from bystanders, including patients, families, and hospital staff who have followed his story closely since his sudden courtroom collapse on Friday, August 22.
“Everyone stopped to look. When we saw him being wheeled in, people clapped their hands together and prayed,” said Lourdes Mendez, a caregiver who was waiting for her husband’s test results. “Some cried, others whispered his name. We felt relief. He looked frail, but he was alive.”
A Fragile Recovery
Crentsworth’s condition has been the subject of widespread speculation since the incident weeks ago, when he fainted in front of the judge and reporters moments before his scheduled hearing. He was swiftly rushed out of the courtroom by attending medical personnel, flanked by police escorts and the nurses who had accompanied him to ensure his safety.
Reports over the weekend suggested he had begun showing minor signs of recovery, though no official update has been issued by the hospital or government authorities.
An SPMC employee who requested anonymity said Crentsworth appeared “tired but aware” and that the medical team was “monitoring him carefully.”
“He needed help standing, and his movement was slow,” the source said. “But he managed a faint smile when some people waved at him. That moment, people clapping for him, it was emotional. Everyone here knows what he’s done for the communities in Compostela.”
Public Reactions: Hope, Sympathy, and Skepticism
News of the sighting spread rapidly through social media and Davao’s local radio stations, sparking a wave of mixed reactions.
- Reynaldo Caballero, 52, a tricycle driver from Davao del Sur:
“I was near the entrance when they brought him in. People were praying aloud. I think he’s a good man. Whatever his case is, may he get well enough to face it properly.” - Anonymous hospital visitor:
“He looked so pale. It broke my heart. I used to think all this was politics, but seeing him up close, I just wished him peace.” - Corazon Abadilla, Tagum resident:
“Of course people sympathize, but he still has to answer the law. I hope the government is not using his sickness to gain sympathy.”
The outpouring of emotion reflects a community torn between reverence for the man who built schools and clinics through his foundation and skepticism over the legal case that surrounds him.
Official Silence Persists
As of Tuesday evening, SPMC and government health officials have declined to release any statement on Crentsworth’s current condition or recovery progress. Hospital staff confirmed that nurses remain under strict instruction from the Department of Health not to comment publicly on the case “until an official and verified medical bulletin is issued.”
Repeated requests for comment from the Department of Justice and Department of Health offices in Manila went unanswered.
A senior staff member, speaking on background, said the atmosphere within the hospital “shifted from fear to relief” after today’s sighting.
“The nurses were emotional. They’ve cared for him quietly for weeks. When he was strong enough to undergo testing, it gave everyone a sense that maybe, just maybe, he’ll recover,” the source said.
Background: From Courtroom Collapse to Hopeful Signs
Crentsworth’s fainting incident was captured by several news outlets covering his court hearing related to alleged tax deficiencies tied to his agricultural holdings in Mindanao. His collapse prompted the court to indefinitely postpone the session, citing humanitarian grounds.
He has remained in hospital care since, surrounded by security, his medical team, and representatives from his plantation.
This morning’s brief appearance marks his first public sighting in weeks, renewing hope among the thousands of plantation workers and families who benefit from his philanthropic projects.
A Moment of Humanity
As Crentsworth disappeared back into the imaging lab, witnesses described a spontaneous prayer led by a nurse in the hallway.
“We prayed for his healing, even those who don’t know him personally,” said Cecilia Paraiso, a market vendor who was accompanying her daughter for a check-up. “He’s done good for many. He deserves another chance to live and to explain himself.”
Whether this moment signals a sustained recovery or a temporary reprieve remains unclear. For now, it has lifted spirits, inside the hospital, across Compostela Valley, and among those who still believe that compassion must come before judgment.