Owner, family of questioned clinic in Tarlac received threats —lawyer

A lawyer of Doctor Farrah Agustin-Bunch, whose clinic in Tarlac was ordred closed for allegedly unauthorized food supplements, on Friday said his client and her family expressed fears for their lives after receiving threats on their safety.

"May ipinadala siya sa akin last night na screenshot ng Viber as well as text message sa kaniya, at ang threat ay malinaw. [Nakasaad] pa 'yung pangalan ng anak na dalagita na kapag itinuloy daw niya ang laban sa FDA [Food and Drug Admistration] ay ang unang masasaktan 'yung mga anak," Attorney Sigfrid Fortun said in an interview on "Dobol B sa News TV."

Also, Fortun expressed suspicion that a syndicate may be behind the delay of the FDA's  approval of the products of Agustin-Bunch, who is apparently opposed to Western medicine.

"Malalim ho. It seems to me na parang ang lumalabas sindikato ho itong nangunguna dito sa pagharang sa kaniyang aplikasyon at pagtagal ng approval ng kaniyang produkto... Wala naman pong malinaw pero ang lumalabas ho nito, ang kaniyang mga produkto ay kontra sa Western medicine kasi mga herbal products po ito eh. At ang ginagamit lang ho dito ay herbs, local products, those that you can plant in your backyard."

Fortun noted that Agustin-Bunch's products have also undergone experts' examination from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), University of the Philippines, and St. Luke's Medical Center.

Doctor Bunch's works were also given citations by Traditional medicine organizations, Fortun added.

Authorities raided Bunch's Natural Medical Center in Victoria, Tarlac on August 18 and confiscated food supplement stocks.

Doctor Bunch also believes the raid on her clinic by Philippine FDA authorities was illegal.

FDA decision

Fortun said that the FDA conducted a test-buy on Agustin-Bunch's products in May, followed by the release of their findings on July 27.  Agustin-Bunch then allowed the operatives to inspect her facility that day.

He said his client was asked to file her documents within 10 days.

Dr. Agustin-Bunch did file her certifications and other product registrations on August 6, but to her surprise, a decision was made on August 8 closing her clinic because the FDA did not receive her reply.

"All of these [documents] confirm the fact that this is not unsafe particularly because it is only for limited use by cancer patients who were consulting with her," Fortun said.

Further, Allen Bantolo, acting chief of the FDA regulatory unit, also claimed complaints were made regarding Agustin-Bunch's medicines. Fortun belied the allegations.

"Nandu'n po lahat na itong mga sinasabing reklamo ay panay undocumented... Hindi naman po na-document o even indicated na itong kanilang karamdaman o paglala o pagkamatay ng pasiyente, ang dahilan kung bakit ganu'n ang nangyari sa pasiyente ay dahil sa pag-inom ng mga produkto ni Dr. Farrah. Everything was all conclusions and speculations and premise on people who are actually supportive of Western drugs. So you also see the politics here."

Fortun said patients have the right to choose the treatment they prefer, whether combined chemotherapy and Homeopathy, pure Homeopathy, natural medicines or just herbs.

Despite being tested and approved by other medical experts, Fortun noted that his client is still waiting for her product certification by the FDA.

Fortun emphasized Agustin-Bunch made no claims that her concoctions could cure cancer. —Jamil Santos/LBG, GMA News