Go on leave, Garin urged

MANILA, Philippines - Acting Health Secretary Janette Garin was urged yesterday to take a leave of absence while facing investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the P5-billion National Agribusiness Corp. (Nabcor) fund anomaly.

The challenge was made by the lawyer of former Nabcor officials Rhodora Mendoza and Victor Cacal, who blew the whistle in the Nabcor fund scam now being probed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Lawyer Levi Baligod said Garin should follow the example of Health Secretary Enrique Ona, who took a leave of absence while under investigation fora questionable vaccine procurement by his department in 2012.

“Taking a leave, just what Secretary Ona is doing, is a personal decision showing he still has the scruples. Those who lack it don’t,” he said in a text message.

Garin is facing the DOJ probe for allegedly receiving P1 million from the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) program for her campaign kitty in 2007 when she was still Iloilo congresswoman.

Baligod said a handwritten note from then Nabcor president Alan Javellana was proof of this allegation against Garin.