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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider #StopTheDrama: Garin reacts to Leachon's exit from DOH

#StopTheDrama: Garin reacts to Leachon's exit from DOH

Published Sep 12, 2023 08:24 am

At A Glance

  • Iloilo 1st district Janette Garin stood pat on Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 12 on her message to Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Ted Herbosa to not accept "non-experts" or "unqualified" persons as agency consultants. 

Better to import Sputnik-V than produce it locally --GarinHouse Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin

 

 

 

 

 

Iloilo 1st district Janette Garin stood pat on Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 12 on her message to Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Ted Herbosa to not accept "non-experts" or "unqualified" persons as agency consultants. 

"This is not something personal against Leachon. But, I stand firm in calling Sec Herbosa’s accountability in not allowing DOH to be used as a platform for non-experts," Garin said in a statement. 

The House Deputy Majority Leader and former DOH chief was referring to health reform advocate Dr. Tony Leachon, who earlier Tuesday resigned from his position as DOH special adviser for non-communicable disease. 

It was only last week when Garin--during the House budget hearing of the DOH--warned Herbosa against hiring consultants who didn't go through a search committee. Garin casted doubts on the Leachon’s qualifications during the same hearing. 

"I was branded not as a public health expert by a lawmaker. It’s not good to be defending one’s qualifications in the public eye. At this stage, I do not have to prove anything anymore," Leachon said in a separate statement Tuesday. 

To this, Garin said: "Infodemic is a fast growing man-made virus infecting public health and science. Dominating our country the past years, minimizing infodemic is part of my advocacy. PBBM (President Maros) recently made a public stand against fake news." 

"Statements and opinion of non- experts can deceive the general public, resulting to a lot of public health menace," said, which highlighting the hashtag #StopTheDrama and #KatotohananDapatManaig (truth must prevail). 

Garin further said that self- proclaimed experts "can do a lot of damage, especially if allowed to use government’s platform". 

"Quad media is our partner in countering fake news. Outbreaks, epidemics, complicated illnesses can all happen if the public is misled," she said. 

Garin futher said: "Napakalawak ng medisina at walang doctor ang experto sa lahat. Panggulo sa taong bayan ang mga nagkukunyaring eksperto at kaliwa’t kanan ang pa epal sa media." 

(Medicine is a vast field and no doctor is an expert on everything. Pretend experts and attention-seekers in the media space only create confusion among our people.)

 

Leachon's DOH stint lasted only one month.

 

Related Tags

Janette Garin department of health Tony Leachon Ted Herbosa
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