Palace says it is gathering evidence vs. sacked FDA chief Puno

Malacañang on Wednesday said it is gathering evidence for the possible prosecution of sacked Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director General Nela Charade Puno.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo told a news conference that President Rodrigo Duterte has received "numerous" complaints against Puno, who was terminated last week after nearly three years at the helm of the FDA.

The Palace said Puno's termination was in line with Duterte's continuing mandate to eradicate graft and corruption in government.

"The President also wants to share to the public that he has received numerous, as in numerous complaints from doctors, including his own doctor about the former director general [Puno], and many complaints coming from many sectors," Panelo said.

"And the Palace is just awaiting for the submission of sworn statements which shall be forwarded to the Department of Justice."

Panelo said the doctors' complaints may have something to do with corruption.

He added the Department of Health, which supervises the FDA, had forwarded Commission on Audit reports concerning the FDA to the DOJ which will determine whether charges should be filed against Puno.

Panelo meanwhile presented to the media the May 17 letter from the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) which commended Duterte for sacking Puno.

"We fully support your resolute actions at the FDA, including the replacement of its director general, for us to effectively and efficiently conduct commerce that is consistent with your agenda of increasing competitiveness and ease of doing business to fuel human capital and economic development," PHAP executive director Teodoro Padilla said in the letter addressed to the President.

"Actions such as these underscore your administration's seriousness in its commitment to fight graft and corruption for which we have taken notice and are extremely grateful."

Puno on May 17 took exception to the corruption allegations, saying she was "clueless as to what these are."

She also said she had served as FDA chief with "complete honesty, diligence, dedication, and loyalty." — BM, GMA News