NBI probes ‘DOH vaccines mess’ involving Ona, Tayag

By MARK MERUEÑAS, GMA News

Published November 10, 2014 1:39pm

The National Bureau of Investigation has been investigating since June the Department of Health's purchase of expensive vaccines in 2012 despite a recommendation to buy more cost-effective ones, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said on Monday.

De Lima made the remark more than a week after Health Secretary Enrique Ona took a leave of absence. No less than President Benigno Aquino III has said that Ona took the leave to prepare his explanation as regards issues surrounding the country's immunization program.

"The NBI is conducting an investigation into the procurement by the DOH of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine 10 (PCV 10) contrary to the recommendation of the National Center for Pharmaceutical Access and Management (NCPAM), the Formulary Executive Council (FEC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) which recommended PCV 13 which is said to be more cost-effective," De Lima told reporters.

De Lima said the 2012 procurement for the vaccines was upon the "direction" of Health Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag and "made possible by a certificate of exemption issued by Secretary Ona."

Sought for a reaction, Ona said in a text message that the DOH wasalready "looking closely into that allegation." He did not reply, however, when asked whether he had issued any certification that allowed the procurement of the said vaccines.

He did not answer succeeding calls and text messages from GMA News Online.

Tayag didn't answer calls and text messages.

DOH to cooperate

DOH spokesperson Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy said the agency would "fully cooperate” with the DOJ in its investigation of the procurement of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccines.

“We will provide whatever documents it needs to enlighten them on their investigation,” said Lee Suy, who is also the program manager of Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases of the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control of the DOH.

“We will wait for the DOJ official communication on what kind of information it needs from our agency. And we will provide. We cannot assume what the DOJ needs,” said the official, who appeared uncomfortable fielding questions from reporters on the alleged questionable procurement of vaccines.

In a statement later in the day, the DOH said it would "not tolerate violations, and we continue to respect the rule of law.”

“We appeal to everyone to leave the issue with the investigating authorities," the DOH said.

“Vaccination saves lives. We assure everyone that public health is foremost in our priorities, and that every vaccine-preventable disease will be given proper attention,” it added.

Discreet probe

De Lima said Ona probably had no idea that the NBI investigating the matter as it was being done "discreetly." De Lima said investigators had also yet to speak with Tayag regarding the questioned purchases.

She said she ordered a "discreet" probe as early June, after she was informed that "certain sectors," which she did not identify, "went straight to the Office of the President" to report the procurement of the PCV 10.

De Lima said NBI agents initially were having a hard time investigating since DOH offices and units were bring "uncooperative" in providing them documents and were even giving them a "run around."

"So I told them you better do already an open investigation para makapag issue officially ng subpoena, iyong sinong mga DOH officials na kailangang i-invite o i-subpoena to further shed light ay gawin na," De Lima said.

However, she said she would be leaving it up to the NBI to decide who among the DOH officials and other concerned individuals would be summoned in the probe.

Progress reports

De Lima said she had already received several progress reports from the NBI regarding its probe, the latest one dated November 7.

She however refused to divulge their content, pending completion of the entire investigation. She also said she has not yet forwarded any of the reports to President Benigno Aquino III.

De Lima said both administrative and criminal cases could come out from the NBI investigation.

She said the cases would be under the "disciplining authority" of the appointing official, the President, although the Office of the Ombudsman could also share jurisdiction if the offenses fall under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practics Act.

Ona has said that he went on leave to "extensively answer" the President's questions on the Health Department's immunization and other public health programs.

Earlier, Aquino said he asked Ona to reassess the immunization program, prompting the latter to go on a personal leave.

On what report he is preparing, Ona said that aside from the immunization program, he would also include inputs on the government's hospital reform program.

Given a month to explain

Malacanang on Monday said Ona should be provided the opportunity to explain himself.

“Secretary Ona was given time to answer questions that were propounded by the President. He was given a month, let us allow him the time to put together the answers that are being asked of him,” presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told reporters.

Asked why the NBI was investigating Ona and whether the prove was ordered by Aquino, Valte said she had no information.

The Palace earlier expressed confidence that Ona would be able to explain himself.

Pressed in a recent news briefing if Aquino was suspecting corruption or any other anomaly with the implementation of the DOH's immunization program, Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said: "Ang Pangulo na mismo ang nagsabi na ang period ng pagkakaroon ng official leave ay inaakalang magiging sapat para maipaliwanag ang lahat ng mga isyu."

"Iyon naman ang pahayag ng Pangulo. Hinihintay niya ‘yung paliwanag dahil nais niyang magkaroon ng clarification regarding certain issues on the implementation of public health policy," Coloma said. —with a report from Amita O. Legaspi, Elizabeth Marcelo and Ibarra C. Mateo/NB/JST, GMA News

Tags: departmentofhealth, vaccines, enriqueona, erictayag