When health reform advocate Dr. Tony Leachon called for Executive Secretary (ES) Ralph Recto's resignation, he probably didn't expect three women leaders from the House of Representatives to give him a dressing-down for his supposedly haphazard remarks.

Rebuking and lecturing Leachon on Friday, May 8 were Deputy Speaker Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin, Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro, and San Juan City lone district Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora.

Of the three, its Garin, a former Department of Health (DOH), who has no love lost for Leachon, as the two have clashed over the years because of public health issues and politics.

“Sumawsaw ka na naman. Kung totoong buwis ang adbokasiya mo, then say it straight (You’ve jumped in again. If taxes are truly your advocacy, then say it straight): tax the rich, subsidize the poor and stop pretending that every complicated fiscal decision can be solved by calling for someone’s resignation,” Garin said in direct reference to Leachon.

“Kulang na kulang sa context ang atake na ito. Madaling magpa-viral, pero mas mahirap maglatag ng solusyon na hindi sisira sa budget, o hindi magpapabigat sa mahihirap at hindi puro paingay,” Garin added.

(This attack is sorely lacking in context. It’s easy to go viral, but it’s harder to propose solutions that won’t break the budget, won’t burden the poor, and aren’t just noise.)

Leachon earlier took to social media to call for Recto’s resignation. He cited the alleged “defunding” of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), the failure to reduce excise taxes on diesel and gasoline, and Recto’s role in the Expanded Value-Added Tax (E-VAT) law as grounds for his demand.

For Luistro, it was unfair to blame Recto for complex policy choices that pass through Congress, economic managers, and the full machinery of government.

“Calling for resignation is the easiest line to throw when one does not want to deal with the hard part of governance. The harder question is this: how do we raise enough revenues, protect the poor and keep essential services running without making irresponsible promises?” asked the Committee on Justice chairperson.

“Tax policy is always a question of balance. If Dr. Leachon wants to talk about health care, then let us talk about how to strengthen PhilHealth, improve benefits, reduce out-of-pocket expenses and make sure the money reaches patients instead of turning the debate into a personality attack,” she added.

She also stressed that her fellow Batangueño Recto’s record as a legislator and economic policymaker should be judged in full, rather than through a social media card built around three accusations.

“ES Recto has spent decades working on budgets, revenues and reforms. You may agree or disagree with his positions, but reducing that record to a meme is intellectually lazy and unfair to the public,” Luistro said.

Echoing this was Zamora, a justice panel vice chairperson. She said Leachon’s post ignored the real policy debate on how government should fund health care while shielding ordinary Filipinos from heavier burdens.

“The responsible position is to design a system where those with greater capacity contribute more and those with less in life receive stronger support. That is the real conversation, and that is far more useful than asking for resignations every time a policy issue becomes difficult,” she said.

“Public health advocacy should help people understand the choices before government. It should not scare them with half-context claims that make anger easier than understanding,” Zamora added.

Zamora says critics are free to question fiscal policy but must be careful when turning disagreement into personal attacks against public officials. “We can debate PhilHealth funding, fuel taxes and VAT with seriousness. But if the goal is to help struggling Filipino families, then the answer should be better policy, clearer targeting and stronger subsidies, not another round of online attacks."

Garin said Leachon should know that health financing cannot be treated as a one-line slogan because the health system depends on contributions, subsidies, reimbursements, benefit packages and long-term sustainability.

“Doktor siya, so dapat alam niya na hindi lahat ng sakit nadadaan sa sigaw. Ganoon din sa gobyerno. Hindi lahat ng problema sa health financing nadadaan sa resignation demand,” she said.

(He’s a doctor, so he should know that not all illnesses can be cured by shouting. It’s the same in government. Not all problems in health financing can be solved by demanding resignations.)

“If he really wants to help, then he should join the serious discussion: paano palalakasin ang PhilHealth benefits, paano babawasan ang gastos ng pasyente at paano titiyakin na ang may kaya ang mas malaking ambag habang ang mahirap ang mas malaking proteksyon,” Garin added.

(If he really wants to help, then he should join the serious discussion: how to strengthen PhilHealth benefits, how to reduce patient expenses, and how to ensure that those who can afford it contribute more while the poor receive greater protection.)