Ona admits taking a leave to extensively answer PNoy’s queries

Published November 4, 2014 12:07pm

(Updated 4:11 p.m.) On-leave Health Secretary Enrique Ona admitted Tuesday that he took a leave to extensively answer President Benigno Aquino III’s questions on the Health Department's immunization and other public health programs.

“Ipiniprepare natin yung ating mga sagot...in the process pa kasi complicated...extensive yung ating ginagawa(ng report),” Ona told reporters after attending the necrological service for former Health Secretary and Senator Juan Flavier held at the DOH office in Manila.

It was his first public appearance after the announcement that he took a leave to settle some matters.

Asked if he was forced to take the leave, Ona said he will go with what the President said.

“Yung sinabi ng President yesterday (Monday), yun na lang muna. May sinabi na siya kahapon, yung na lang, I will not add anything,” he said.

Earlier, Aquino said he asked Ona to reassess the immunization program, prompting the latter to go on a personal leave.

"May mga questions na umiiral tungkol sa immunization program ng ating kabataan na humingi sya ng oras din para maihanda ang mga paliwanag niya. Hindi nya maihahanda ang sagot sa mga katanungan kung tinatrabaho pa rin niya ang kanyang day-to-day functions as secretary of health. Kaya humingi muna ng leave para maihanda ang mga kasagutan," the President told reporters Monday in Calamba City in Laguna.

Asked what report he is preparing, Ona said that aside from the immunization program, he will include the hospital reform program.

“Yung immunization program at a few things na nasabi niya doon sa kanyang speech. In terms of immunization, in terms of public health, saka yung ating hospital reform program. So yun ang ating i-dedevelop nang husto. Para ma-explain sa tao kasi a little bit complicated kasi yung ating hospital programs,” he said.

Ona said his relationship with the President remains good. “Ok naman,” was Ona’s reply when asked by reporters.

The on-leave Health secretary also said that his medical condition is getting better now but he is still enduring the allergies brought by the hair dye he used. “(I’m getting) better. Tignan nyo na lang ang buhok ko,” he said.

Preventive, curative measures

Meanwhile, at a press briefing in Malacañang, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) chief Herminio “Sonny” Coloma said what Aquino specifically wanted Ona to extensively explain is the DOH's preventive and curative measures as part of its health program.

“Sa konsepto ng Pangulo ay dalawang aspeto ito, ‘yung preventive at curative. At sa kanyang pananaw, mahalaga ‘yung pagkakaroon ng mga preventive activities, kasi kung magiging epektibo ang prevention o ‘yung pagpigil sa mga sakit na dahil doon ay mayroong immunization, maaaring mabawasan ‘yung gugugulin para sa curative aspect,” Coloma said.

“Yon ang pagkaunawa ko na pinahihimay at pinapapaliwanag –kung paano ang naging patakaran at pagpapatupad ng DOH doon sa aspeto ng preventive at curative aspects of immunization,” he said.

Pressed if Aquino was suspecting corruption or any other anomaly with the implementation of the DOH's immunization program, Coloma replied: “Ang Pangulo na mismo ang nagsabi na ang period ng pagkakaroon ng official leave ay inaakalang magiging sapat para maipaliwanag ang lahat ng mga isyu. ‘Yon naman ang pahayag ng Pangulo. Hinihintay niya ‘yung paliwanag dahil nais niyang magkaroon ng clarification regarding certain issues on the implementation of public health policy,”

“Ang tangi ko lang masasabi ay sa lahat ng pagkakataon siniseryoso ng Pangulo ‘yung kanyang panawagan na tahakin ang tuwid na daan at tinitiyak niya na ang mga kaagapay niya sa pamahalaan, lalong-lalo na ang mga miyembro ng Gabinete at lahat ng mga pambansang opisyal na humahawak ng mga sensitibong posisyon ay tumatalima sa prinsipyong ‘yan,” he added.

At the same time, Coloma appealed to the media not to give political color on the appointment of Health Undersecretary Janette Garin as the DOH officer-in-charge .

“Ang Pangulo naman po ang may pagpapasya kung sino ang dapat na mamuno sa mga kagawaran. Pansinin po natin siya ang Chief Executive. Lahat po ng mga kagawaran sa executive branch ay nasa ilalim ng liderato at pangangasiwa ng Pangulo. Kaya tama lang po na siya ang nagpapasya hinggil sa mga bagay na ‘yan,” Coloma said.

Garin is a member of the administration's Liberal Party. — with Elizabeth Marcelo/RSJ, GMA News

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