Acting DOH chief to step down if visit to quarantine island proven wrong

MANILA, Philippines - Department of Health (DOH) Acting Secretary Janette Garin on Wednesda said she will take full responsibility if it will be officially proven by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that her visit to Caballo Island violated protocols.

"Kung mali po ang ginawa ko ... kung tama po 'yung akusasyong inilagay ko sa delikado ang buhay ng mga Pilipino, siyempre hindi po ako karapat-dapat manatiling acting secretary of Health," Garin said in an interview with radio dzMM.

The acting DOH secretary and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang were criticized for not wearing a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when they visited the quarantined Filipino peacekeepers at Caballo Island.

"Ang purpose po ng pagpunta du'n is para masagot 'yung maraming katanungan, mabigyan ng desisyon yung nagkakaibang paniwala lalong-lalo na po because we cannot separate quarantine from the use of PPE," Garin said.

Garin reiterated that there is no need for the use of PPE as the peacekeepers are not yet showing symptoms of Ebola virus disease, adding that the facility might run out of PPEs given that there is a large global demand for the protective gears.

Sen. Vicente "Tito" Sotto III earlier said that acting Health secretary and AFP chief violated the protocol themselves and suggested that they undergo the 21-day quarantine as preventive measures as well.

The AFP chief earlier said that there is no need for them to apologize for visiting the quarantine island and that he is willing to be quarantined if there is a need to.

"If [DOH] secretary Garin says we should be quarantined, we will follow orders...  It's up to secretary Garin. I am a soldier and I follow advice from higher authorities," Catapang said on Tuesday.

READ: AFP chief ready to undergo quarantine if needed

The acting Health secretary consulted the WHO headquarters in Europe, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and Bureau of Quarantine regarding the issue.

"Before I did everything it was with full clearance sa experts," Garin added.

Relatives of the quarantined peacekeepers and the media are still not recommended to visit Caballo Island, according to Garin.

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