Santiago’s advice to Ona: Resign

By: Maila Ager - 10 years ago

MANILA, Philippines — If she were Health Secretary Enrique Ona, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago said she would resign to give the President a free hand.

Ona has been on leave amid questions raised over his controversial choice of an anti-pneumonia vaccine against the recommendation of global health authorities.

“If I were him, I would give the President a completely free hand knowing that I’m completely at the control of the President,” Santiago said in an interview on Monday.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

“I am appointed and I am discharged from office completely at the discretion of the President…and therefore, if there are certain issues that cloud my relationship with the President, I will take the initiative by submitting my resignation. That way, I’m giving the President much more freedom to do with me as he pleases,” she said.

“I would consider that my service has already redounded to the public good and I can contribute more to what is good for the public by offering my resignation,” the senator added.

Santiago said the country needs a “very firm leadership” from the Department of Health especially in times of this crisis which are not only national but global in nature.

“Since we have so many Filipinos abroad, it cannot be helped that these problems like Ebola will come and threaten the national health,” she said.

“So I believe that in that situation, the better thing for the office holder to do is to give the President as many options as he can. There might be other personalities who have better international exposure to diseases and their prevention,” the senator added.