Garin challenges DOH ex-consultant to file cases, show evidence on ‘mafia’ allegation

Former Health Secretary Janette Garin on Monday challenged Dr. Francis Cruz, former consultant of the Department of Health, to file cases and show documents to prove his allegations.

"Malaking kasinungalingan po 'yan kaya nga po ilang beses ko po inuulit, mag-file na siya ng kaso at ibigay niya ang dokumento at pruweba niya doon sa sinasabi niyang DOH mafia nu'ng ako'y naupo bilang secretary for one and a half years," Garin said in an interview on Unang Balita.

"Hindi ko po siya kilala. Hindi ko po siya nakatrabaho. Narinig ko lang po siya bilang isa doon sa kinokonsidera na bilang undersecretary ni Secretary [Paulyn] Ubial so siyempre naririnig-rinig mo naman 'yon sa circle of doctors," she added.

Cruz revealed the existence of an alleged "mafia" that supposedly profited from the purchase of the controversial dengue vaccine Dengvaxia and other anomalous projects.

Garin denied anew the allegations of Cruz saying that there were no "ghost projects" during her time as health secretary.

The former Health chief also questioned the motives of Cruz while also insinuating that there might be some people backing him.

"Kasinungalingan po 'yan. Unang-una po nu'ng narinig ko 'yan ay tinawagan ko kaagad ang departamento kung totoo ba 'yung savings na P550 million dala doon sa dengue vaccine procurement ng PCMC (Philippine Children's Medical Center) eh nasaan. At ang sagot nga ay nandiya-diyaan. At alam ni Francis Cruz 'yan dahil tiningnan 'yan ni Secretary Ubial nung panahon niya at tiningnan niya kung paano gamitin at kung pwede bang gamitin sa ibang bagay," she said.

"I can assure you that during my time, wala pong ghost delivery ng equipment, walang ghost delivery ng mga gamot. Hindi ko po alam kung saan nanggagaling no, ang hugot ni Dr. Francis Cruz. At ang ikinapagtataka ko—kasi naririnig ko nga sa iba niyang mga salita, bukang bibig niya po na ipagtanggol nang ipagtanggol si Secretary [Enrique] Ona, 'yun po inirerespeto namin—pero nagugulat po ako kasi wala naman siya sa DOH nu'ng panahon na iyon. At kawawa naman itong mga career officials ng Department na niyuyurakan niya ang mga pangalan na wala naman siyang hawak na ebidensya," she added.

"...Meron naman po kasing iba na binibigyan siya ng pagkakataon na magsalita nang magsalita miski walang ebidensya. Hindi po namin alam kung sino ang nagpapatakbo sa kanya, ano 'yung kanyang intensyon, at bakit niya sinisira ang Departamento," she continued.

Cruz in a media forum on Saturday tagged Garin and more than a dozen other incumbent and former health officials as belonging to a "mafia" which allegedly participated in different activities he considered as acts of "plunder."

He said these activities include the alleged conversion of a part of the P3.55-billion fund for the Dengvaxia purchase, alleged ghost projects of the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) worth P23 billion, and "assorted medicines" worth P12 billion.

The former DOH consultant also claimed that 90 percent of whatever amount of money released for the project goes back to the DOH, while the other 10 percent goes to the "financier."

He, however, did not identify the supposed leader of the group, but said that she still has "influence" over the said officials. —Marlly Rome Bondoc/KG, GMA News