Lung Center chief bares DOH anomalies

Beleaguered Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP) executive director Dr. Fernando Melendres revealed yesterday the Department of Health (DOH) has failed to turn over more than P43 million in funds allocated for the hospital’s National Volunteer Blood Services Program (NVBSP) for two years.

He said the money had not reached them and was "now missing."

Melendres also said the administering of expired oral polio vaccines (OPVs) to children caused the resurgence of polio in the country a few years back.

These charges made up the bulk of Melendres’ promised exposé against Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit, whom he accused of leading moves to oust him from his post as LCP chief.

In a press conference yesterday, Melendres proclaimed that he will not honor Malacañang Administrative Order 59 issued on Feb. 4 and signed by Acting Deputy Executive Secretary Manuel Gaite ordering his dismissal from government service, forfeiting his financial retirement benefits, and disqualifying him from re-employment in government due to graft.

Melendres said the order was irregular since an order dismissing him from his post should come from the President or the executive secretary.

For his part, Dayrit warned Melendres against defying the order from Malacañang. "He will have to take the consequences of his actions. He could be found guilty of insubordination," the health chief said.

The health chief also brushed aside Melendres’ charges. "These are all allegations. He has to substantiate it. The main issue here is that he has to comply with the (Malacañang) order first," he said.