Drilon defends health chief, says calls for protective gear an exaggeration

Military and health officials visit Caballo island on Sunday, Nov. 16, where peacekeepers from Liberia are kept for a quarantine. PHOTO FROM AFP

MANILA, Philippines—Senate President Franklin Drilon on Thursday defended acting Health Secretary Janette Garin, saying that the proposal for her to wear protective gear when she faced the Senate next week was an exaggeration.

“’Yung mga panawagan na maglagay s’ya ng mask, sa akin po medyo (overreacting) at hindi naman siguro kailangan ‘yan. Let’s put it in a proper perspective,” Drilon said in a radio interview.

(Regarding calls for her to wear a mask, for me, they’re overreacting. I think there’s no need for that. Let’s put it in a proper perspective)

Garin drew flak for visiting the Filipino peacekeepers who are under quarantine on Caballo Island after their stint in Ebola-stricken Liberia.

“Medyo ako’y nakakasiguro na hindi ilalagay ni Secretary Janette Garin ang kalusugan ng sambayanan at s’ya po ay isang doktora, isa po s’yang physician kaya naiitindihan n’ya po kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng communicable diseases, ano’ng ibig sabihin ng Ebola at ako po’y nakakasiguro na hindi ilalagay sa panganib ang ating kalusugan,” Drilon said.

(I’m quite certain that Secretary Janette Garin will not put the public’s health in danger. Being a physician, she understands the risks of communicable diseases, such as Ebola. I’m sure she won’t put our health in danger.)

Drilon said Garin had probably learned her lesson following criticisms that she breached protocol. She should make it clear to the public that what she did was not only meant to get public attention, the Senate leader said.

Several Senators have questioned Garin’s move. The health chief is scheduled to appear next week in the Senate deliberation on the proposed 2015 budget of the Department of Health.

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, chairman of the Senate committee on finance, said in jest on Wednesday that Garin should wear protective gear to avoid a possible spread of the virus.

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