Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 2) – Two lawmakers are pushing through with their group’s distribution of the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin, despite criticisms and a looming investigation.
In an online forum on Sunday, Sagip Party-list Rep. Dante Marcoleta said aside from Barangay Balara in Quezon City, they would also be giving out ivermectin to residents in Barangays Commonwealth and Holy Spirit.
“Hinihingan namin ng sulat at petisyon ‘yung mga kalapit na barangay tulad ng Commonwealth at Barangay Holy Spirit para sa ganon pormal ‘yung paghingi nila ng ivermectin sa amin,” says Marcoleta.
[Translation: We are asking for letters and petitions from nearby barangays like Commonwealth and Barangay Holy Spirit to formalize their request for ivermectin from us.]
The said barangays are some of the areas with the most number of COVID-19 cases in Quezon City. As of May 2, 2021, Brgy. Matandang Balara has recorded 1,614 cases, Brgy. Commonwealth has 2,665 cases, and Brgy. Holy Spirit with 2,123 cases.
According to Marcoleta, the request for a formal petition from the two barangays was meant to avoid accusations being thrown at their group that they are forcing residents to take the drug.
Last week, Marcoleta, along with Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Mike Defensor, earned the ire of doctors and pharmacists after distributing ivermectin through prescriptions with no doctor’s details.
Groups such as the Philippine Medical Association in a statement dated May 1, warned doctors not to prescribe the use of ivermectin outside permitted hospitals.
But Marcoleta maintained they were not breaking any laws.
“Anong guideline ang aming viniolate? Ang Constitution mismo ang viniolate ninyo. Ano po ‘yung declared policy ng estado? It is the declared policy of the state to protect and promote the right to health of its people,” said Marcoleta.
[Translation: What guideline did we violate? You violated the Constitution itself. What is the declared policy of the state? It is the declared policy of the state to protect and promote the right to health of its people.]
This weekend, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said studies on the efficacy of ivermectin as an anti-COVID-19 drug are still ongoing.
“There are ongoing clinical trials. I think about 20 or 30 clinical trials worldwide but as the WHO has repeatedly said and agreed upon by our technical advisory group of experts, there is no sufficient evidence as of today to show that this can actually lead to treatment or prevention of COVID infection,” said Duque.
The DOH and the Food and Drug Administration will endorse to the Professional Regulation Commission reports of invalid prescriptions of ivermectin made to residents
