DOH: RITM chief not replaced, ‘erroneous draft’ cited

The Department of Health (DOH) maintained Monday that there was no leadership change at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and that the appointment papers which made the rounds on social media over the weekend supposedly showing its chief being relieved was an “erroneous draft.” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that RITM director Dr. Celia Carlos remains the head of the health care institution which is leading the country’s efforts against COVID-19. She noted that there had been a clerical “mistake” in Assistant Health Secretary Nestor Santiago’s appointment papers, which intended to lay down his oversight functions on RITM. “It’s not true that she is being replaced. There was an error in the drafting of the department personnel order (DPO). This was already corrected Saturday night,” Vergeire said. In a DPO dated March 21 and signed by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Santiago was designated as officer in charge of RITM, concurrent to his capacity as assistant secretary for public health services. The document made the rounds on social media. But Duque explained that Santiago was brought in only to assist Carlos, whom he said he has “no doubt” over her capacity to lead RITM. —Jovic Yee