Duque wants ex-consultant to show evidence for ‘mafia’ claim in DOH

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Sunday said that Dr. Francis Cruz, a former consultant to the Department of Health, should provide evidence that will prove his claim of the existence of a "mafia" involving several health officials who allegedly benefited from the purchase of the controversial dengue vaccine Dengvaxia and other supposed anomalous projects.

But  Duque said he is not discounting the claims of Cruz, who was a consultant to Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial, and that he will order an investigation into the matter. 

"Tinitingan naman natin 'yan at kung meron silang ebidensya para sabihin na may mafia sa loob, maganda sana ilabas nila 'yung ebidensya kasi mahirap naman 'yung magsalita ka lang na may mafia rito, mafia doon pero kung wala ka namang hawak-hawak na patunay ... mahirap 'yon," Duque said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

"Pero 'wag din nating balewalain 'yung kanyang sinasabi kaya magpapaimbestiga tayo ng sinasabi niyang mafia at tinitingnan naman natin lahat ng mga kontrata na pinasukan ng nagdaang administrasyon," Duque added.

Cruz on Saturday tagged former Health Secretary Janette Garin and more than a dozen other incumbent and former health officials, as belonging to a "mafia" who participated in different in activities he considered as acts of "plunder."

He said these activities include the alleged conversion of a part of the P3.55-billion fund for the Dengvaxia purchase, alleged ghost projects of the Health Facilities Enhancement Program worth P23 billion, and "assorted medicines" worth P12 billion.

Cruz claimed that 90 percent of whatever amount of money released for the project goes back to the DOH, while the other 10 percent goes to the "financier."

The former Department of Health consultant also alleged that Garin sub-allotted P3 billion to the Philippine Children's Medical Center for the Dengvaxia purchase while P550 million supposedly stayed with the DOH.

Cruz, meanwhile, did not identify Garin as the leader of the supposed group, but said she still has "influence" over the officials he named.

Garin has denied the allegations of Cruz, saying that it was a "big lie," while also threatening that she will file a libel complaint against him. —LBG/KG, GMA News