Ona starts moving out of DOH office, sources say

MANILA, Philippines - While he is supposedly still on leave, Health Secretary Enrique Ona had his personal belongings collected and delivered to his residence in Valle Verde, Pasig City last Monday.

This apparently indicated the fate of Ona, who is facing investigation over the purchase of anti-pneumonia vaccines that were allegedly not cost-effective and allowing questionable clinical trials for possible dengue treatment.

Sources said Ona had called his staff last Monday to have his belongings at his office at building 1 inside San Lazaro compound in Sta. Cruz, Manila to be gathered.

The belongings include his nameplate, paintings, books, plaques and other memorabilia.

The bulk of his belongings were taken last Monday afternoon but there are still some boxes and paintings waiting to be picked up as of yesterday.

President Aquino appointed Ona as health secretary in June 2010.

Ona is a kidney transplant surgeon and he used to be the medical director of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute.

But last Oct. 28, Ona went on a month-long leave of absence supposedly due to allergy from hair dye.

Soon after, however, news broke out that he was being investigated by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for purchasing pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 10 (PCV-10), which is less cost-effective than PCV 13 that was recommended by some experts.

Ona is also being probed for allowing the clinical trials for possible anti-dengue treatment among hundreds of dengue patients at the San Lazaro Hospital.

This involved the triple drug combination of oral artesunate, artemether and herbal-based berberine that is being questioned by some medical experts.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., however, clarified yesterday that Ona remains the head of the DOH.

Ona’s month-long leave that expired last Nov. 28 was extended, but officials say this is not indefinite. Officials have claimed that Aquino is still in the process of reviewing the report that he required Ona to submit regarding health concerns like vaccination, among others.

Apart from the questionable vaccination programs, Palace insiders say Ona will be facing graft charges in connection with a regional hospital in Luzon that already underwent groundbreaking ceremonies by Aquino.

The establishment of the hospital, which is under the supervision of the Department of Health (DOH), didn’t push through, however, because Ona has repeatedly refused to award the multi-million-peso contract after his contractor-benefactor lost in the bidding.

Some observed, however, that early on, signs were clear that Ona could no longer go back to the DOH.

First, Malacañang had appointed DOH Undersecretary Janette Garin not as officer-in-charge but as acting secretary, which gives her the full power of a Cabinet secretary.

Aside from this, some of Ona’s staff at his office had been sent back to their original posts or transferred to other offices.

President Aquino revealed last Friday that Ona is also being questioned on at least three procurement issues other than the purchase vaccines in 2012.

Aquino declined to elaborate on the issues confronting Ona but revealed that the investigations on at least two of them have been completed.

“I’ll have to follow up when all the investigations will be finished. It’s not just the PCV, there are several others,” Aquino told reporters who covered the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit in Busan.

“In my mind, about three or four other issues have to be attended to,” he added.

The President said he had advised Ona to remain on leave pending the results of the investigations.

NBI gets affidavit

Ona has submitted a sworn affidavit before the NBI in connection with alleged anomalous purchase of P833 million worth of anti-pneumonia vaccines in 2012.

In a 10-page affidavit, Ona insisted that he chose PCV 10 that was a lot cheaper than PCV 13, and there was nothing questionable about the purchase.

“In the midst of the medical debate on which vaccine is more cost-effective, I, as the Secretary of Health, exercised my best judgment in deciding to procure PCV 10, instead of PCV 13. While I do not exactly recall the specific prices of each vaccine, I know that PCV 10 is substantially lower than PCV 13,” Ona’s affidavit read.

He added that contrary to news reports, the purchase of PCV 13 was never endorsed by the World Health Organization. – With Delon Porcalla, Aie Balagtas See