Roque raps ex-COVID task force adviser for criticisms vs. gov’t vaccine program

A former adviser of the national task force on the coronavirus response has drawn profanity-laced tirade from President Duterte although such remarks were not carried live in his public address, Malacañang said Monday.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque disclosed that the President has shown his dismay with Dr. Anthony Leachon after suspecting the medical professional was aspiring for a government post.

Roque issued the statement after Leachon expressed concern with the government's effort to prioritize certain vaccines despite lack of safety and efficacy data.

“Tatapatin ko na si Dr. Leachon. Na-edit lang sa mga 'Talk to the people' pero ang daming beses na namura kayo ng Presidente kasi ang sabi niya kung anu-ano ang sinasabi mo yunpala nagnanais ka lang ng posisyon sa gobyeryno (I will be frank with Dr. Leachon. The President's 'Talk to the people' have been edited but there were many times you were cursed by the President because he said you're saying so many things and yet it appears you're just aspiring for a government post)," Roque said during a televised press briefing.

"Next time murahin kayo ng Presidente (When the President curses you next time), I will insist it will be shown to the people. Baka akalain niyo natutuwa ang Presidente sa inyo, hindi po (You might think the President is pleased with you but he is not),” he added.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. also slammed Leachon during the same virtual press conference, citing his difficulty in working with him when he was part of the task force. He said Leachon, who had a brief stint as special adviser to the NTF last June, made some "very questionable" pronouncements.

“Sa NTF, nagsama kami. Mahirap po siyang kasama. May sariling mundo (We were together at the NTF. He's difficult to deal with. He has his own world)," Galvez said.

The former military official's comment triggered laughter from Roque during the virtual press conference. "Mas maganda ang linya mo (You have a better line) Secretary Galvez. Thank you," he said.

Leachon earlier tweeted his concern about the government's vaccine acquisition plans and called for transparency. "Isn't it disturbing that the government is still prioritizing the vaccines for which they're are not enough safety and efficacy data? Perhaps we need to know the matrix or guidelines on their priority list. Transparency is key.  Safety is paramount," he said.

Reacting to the latest statement from the Palace, Leachon dispelled talk that he was eyeing a government post. He explained that he merely raised concern about the need to have safe and effective vaccines in the country.

“It’s painful to be accused of something which is baseless and untrue. I have been an independent health reform advocate for many years. I have the highest respect for our President and the government," he said. 

"I’m raising a red flag on efficacy and safety data on the vaccines so we can procure the right vaccine for our country. I dreamt of serving the government before but I have no future ambitions to be a public official.  I’d like to spend my sunset years with the family, closest friends , and doing advocacy work," he added.

Back in June, Leachon announced on Twitter that he was no longer an adviser of the NTF a day after expressing disappointment with the Department of Health in leading the efforts against the coronavirus outbreak. 

Galvez later confirmed that Leachon was let go due to the need for concerned officials to work together in battling the pandemic.  He claimed that Leachon's preemptive release of information "jeopardized" the government's messaging in addressing the pandemic as well as caused "unwarranted misunderstanding" between the NTF and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).