DOH chief Duque asked to inquire into Ang Mata party-list

A citizen's movement group on Monday called on Health Secretary Francisco Duque to launch an inquiry into allegedly questionable health projects conducted by the Ang Mata ay Alagaan (Ang Mata) party-list group, represented in Congress by Tricia Nicole Catera.

In a statement, Pinoy Aksyon for Governance and Environment (Pinoy Aksyon) asked the Department of Health (DOH) to look into the party-list's supposed hiring of "non-doctors" and use of non-Food and Drug Administration approved products in their free eye clinics.

"If true, this is alarming. We thought that tedious standards should be applied to these activities which have direct impact on the public. And as a precautionary measure, an inquiry should be in place," the group wrote.

Pinoy Aksyon announced plans last week to file a disqualification case against Ang Mata, while its convenor Bency Ellorin called on the House Ethics and Health committees to conduct an investigation on the party-list's activities.

Ang Mata was one of 40 party-lists named in 2010 as possibly being used by government officials, police and military officials, and businessmen to win seats in Congress.

Catera, its representative, belongs to the Velasco political clan and is the daughter of incumbent Supreme Court justice Presbiterio Velasco.

GMA News Online sought Catera's response to Pinoy Aksyon's move. — Rie Takumi/BM, GMA News