Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 12)-Health reform advocate Dr. Tony Leachon has stepped down as a special adviser of the Department of Health (DOH) amid questions about his qualifications.
Leachon tendered his resignation on Monday, explaining that he made the careful consideration for himself, his family, and his future.
In a lengthy post on social media, Leachon expounded on his decision to vacate the post he held for only a month.
“It’s tough working with a system when your ideas are not welcome and when powerful people attack you unprovoked,” he wrote on Facebook “And you’re alone defending yourself when there’s nothing to explain. They call it power play or politics,” he wrote on Facebook.
Earlier this month, Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin, who previously served as DOH chief , questioned the public health expertise of Leachon.
A House panel found out that Leachon does not have a masters nor doctorate degree in public health to be considered as expert.
Garin also grilled Health Secretary Ted Herbosa on why the government is paying Leachon a P100,000 salary for his government post.
Garin on Tuesday explained that she does not have anything against Leachon, but she asked him to stop the “drama.”
She added that she stands firm “in not allowing DOH to be used as a platform for non-experts.”
The lawmaker said statements and opinions of non-experts can deceive the public, “resulting in a lot of public health menace.”
She also sought accountability from Herbosa, although she clarified in a follow-up statement that this call particularly has to do with ensuring that the DOH follows the proper process of hiring consultants.
“It is not meant to imply that I endorse or disapprove of any consultant’s appointment,” Garin wrote. “My comments were made with the aim of promoting a thorough review and scrutiny of the entire process to ensure the best interests of the public are served.”
DOH or Herbosa has yet to release a statement on the issue.
