Palace denies Ona has resigned

Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Friday denied that Health Secretary Enrique Ona has resigned.

In a Palace briefing, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Ona just asked for a leave extension.

“I had the opportunity to speak with Secretary Ona and he said that he did not submit any resignation,” Valte said.

“My understanding is that Secretary Ona has already submitted his report that was asked, that was required of him by President Aquino, and that Secretary Ona is extending his leave of absence to afford the President time to assess the contents of the report that he has submitted,” Valte added.

Ona’s monthlong leave was set to end Friday. It was initially announced that he was on a medical leave but Aquino later revealed that it was Ona who asked for the leave so he could answer the questions on the agency’s immunization program.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima later confirmed that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was investigating the purchase of expensive vaccines by the Department of Health.

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