Ona: Victim of intrigue

It is said that the halls of power can be one of the most dangerous places in the world, with power seekers, influence peddlers and intrigue-sowers lurking in the corners.  No wonder some have likened Malacañang Palace to a snake pit where sibilant whispers can be as lethal as a snake’s venom, with the victim not knowing he had been nipped at the heel until it is too late.

According to our Palace spy, Health Secretary Enrique Ona is one such victim of Palace intrigue allegedly because someone had been eyeing his position for quite some time, aware that the DOH portfolio (having been low key in the past) has the potential to provide certain benefits and incentives coming from medical suppliers. Knowing that the current administration only has a little over one-and-a-half-year before it bows out, some people are now in a hurry to score – that is, take advantage of the remaining “last two minutes” to make as much money as they can before what we call “game ova’!”

Certain quarters have been vilifying Ona in the past couple of weeks over the alleged anomalous purchase of pneumonia vaccines – an accusation that ONA defended, saying he acted in his best judgment to opt for the less expensive version ($1 cheaper) to optimize limited financial resources. A highly placed source at the DOH who wishes his identity to be withheld for obvious reasons disclosed that some unscrupulous personnel including a certain Asec and Usec and several directors including some influential old timers, apparently didn’t like it when their attempts to manipulate the conduct of the bidding for an important vaccine were foiled by Ona.

The said vaccine – which reportedly had an original budget of more than P700 million – used to be supplied through the United Nations Children’s Fund or UNICEF and used for the government’s expanded program for immunization as prescribed by the World Health Organization. However, in the conduct of the bidding, certain members of the Bids and Awards Committee violated certain provisions “from day 1 of bid opening,” the DOH insider alleged, claiming that a local supplier was allowed to win despite lacking the financial capability and the technical documents proving its eligibility to supply the said vaccines.

What’s more, the foreign counterpart of the said local supplier has reportedly been banned by the UNICEF and some agencies for failing a WHO audit in 2012 for some of its vaccine products, including the one supplied to DOH. Certain technical specifications were altered to allow the favored bidder to participate and pass the post evaluation phase, the same source revealed, adding that some people “profited” by allowing this certain supplier to qualify.

Ona was reportedly dissatisfied and ordered an investigation to be conducted twice – calling the vaccines “basura” or garbage during one of the meetings attended by several DOH staff. The order for an investigation resulted in the cancellation of a Memorandum of Agreement with the favored supplier in January this year. In early February, a rebidding was “hastily” done – something which was not necessary, said the source, because there was a second lowest qualified bidder.

In fact, the second lowest bidder was the same company that supplied the vaccines donated by Prince Charles to the Yolanda victims earlier this year. The British royalty, who was in India at the time of the typhoon, organized a donation for five million doses of rubella and measles vaccines for children. The vaccine maker, Serum Institute in Pune, India, which is one of the biggest measles vaccine-makers in the world, donated the five million doses that was coursed through International Health Partners, one of Prince Charles’ charities.

When Ona ordered the second investigation, a DOH official who reportedly had close ties to the Palace even defended the anomalous procurement, erroneously citing the WHO opinion regarding the safety of the vaccines, the source narrated. Why a questionable supplier was chosen over the second lowest bidder that has been generous in donating to Yolanda victims is a big question mark, the source said, claiming that money allegedly “changed hands in Hong Kong.”

The President should be aware that “Palace reptiles” are twisting the “daang matuwid” and turning it into a crooked snake path that leads straight to their pockets, as confirmed to us by people in the know.

Alabangers banging angrily

Homeowners of the highly exclusive Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa are up in arms over the disruption caused by the annual Christmas bazaar, touted as the biggest south of Manila, with hundreds of concessionaires participating. The four-day event naturally attracted a lot of outsiders who virtually had unfettered access into the gated subdivision – causing anxiety to many residents because of the thought that certain criminal elements – akyat bahay gangs, kidnap-for-ransom groups and the like – may have had the opportunity to case some of the houses and observe the residents. In fact, one suspected gang member was arrested by the Alabang security.

Aside from prominent individuals such as former President Ramos, a lot of celebrities and even foreigners prefer Ayala Alabang because it offers a haven away from the pollution and frenetic pace in other places in the metropolis. Being a huge subdivision with 5,000 homes, managing security can be a nightmare, which is why residents are banging on the doors of the barangay office to ask them to be more circumspect in holding events that allow outsiders to enter the village. Aside from akyat bahay gangs and KFR syndicates, big-time drug dealers have been eyeing the subdivision as a base for operations.

In 2012, PDEA agents raided a house rented by Chinese nationals because it had been converted into a shabu laboratory.  The residents were unaware of the illegal activities because the size of the property made it easy for the chemical fumes to dissipate long before it reached the neighbors. Besides, the owner of the rented house was the family of the late Chito Madrigal-Collantes.

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