De Lima to DOH execs: Stop talking about P800-M vaccine procurement

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net file photo

MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila De Lima told Department of Health (DOH) acting Secretary Janette Garin and other health officials to stop talking about the questionable procurement of over P800-million worth of anti-pneumonia vaccine by the DOH.
Instead of talking to the public about the alleged anomaly, De Lima said health officials should submit themselves to the investigation being conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
“I advise DOH officials, including OIC Garin, to refrain from making public clarification/justification of such issue, pending the probe. Those justification should instead be submitted to [the] OP (Office of the President) and DOJ-NBI,” De Lima said in a text message to reporters.
Health Secretary on-leave Enrique Ona has denied allegations of wrongdoing on the purchase of PCV-10 in 2012 instead of PCV-13. Garin, on the other hand, denied that there was a recommendation to buy PCV-13 instead of PCV-10.

Investigation by the NBI started early this year but has suffered a setback because the DOH, according to De Lima, was uncooperative.
“They cannot access the documents. In fact, certain personalities and offices of the DOH have become uncooperative,” De lima said, prompting her to order the NBI to investigate.

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