NBI probing DOH chief Ona for vaccine purchase

MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Monday confirmed that an investigation is being conducted against Health Secretary Enrique Ona, who is currently on leave.

De Lima said in a state news report that anti-fraud agents of the National Bureau of Investigation have been looking into the questionable procurement of Pneumoccocal Conjugate Vaccine 10 (PCV 10) by the Department of Health (DOH) in 2012.

The investigation on Ona, as well as on DOH Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag, started last June, De Lima said.

She said that a complaint received by the DOJ argued that the DOH had no use for the purchase of PCV 10, a kind of vaccine for children to prevent pulmonary diseases like pneumonia, meningitis, sinusitis and bronchitis.

The PCV 13 should instead have been procured by the agency as it is acknowledged to be more effective and addresses more diseases.

Citing the complaint, De Lima said that the DOH Bids and Awards Committee recommended the PCV 13 and not PCV 10 for procurement.

Tayag, however, allegedly directed the agency to push through with the contentious purchase, while Ona issued a "Certificate of Exemption" for the PCV 10.

Ona took a month-long leave of absence on Oct. 28 from the DOH citing health reasons. President Benigno Aquino III, however, revealed last week that Ona's absence was for him to answer questions about the agency's vaccination program.

READ: DOH chief on way out?