NBI probe of Ona to proceed – De Lima

MANILA, Philippines - The probe into Health Secretary-on-leave Enrique Ona would proceed despite his reported resignation, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said yesterday.

De Lima said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) would come up with its report and recommendations on the alleged questionable procurement of vaccine by the Department of Health approved by Ona in 2012.

“The NBI probe will proceed. Resignation does not extinguish an administrative case,” De Lima told The STAR.

De Lima, however, said she has yet to confirm with Malacañang if Ona had indeed resigned.

Citing a source, The STAR reported on Wednesday that Ona had submitted his resignation letter to President Aquino.

It was not clear, however, whether Aquino accepted the resignation.

The source said the letter was submitted early this week but did not provide other details.

According to the source, the cases were more about command responsibility or ministerial duties than corruption, as well as other issues raised by groups that Ona dealt with.

On Monday, Ona called his office to gather his personal belongings and had them sent to his home in Pasig City, fueling talks that he was out of the DOH.

Malacañang, however, has not been clear on Ona’s status but DOH Undersecretary Janette Garin had been designated as acting secretary, not as officer-in-charge, an indication of a change in leadership.

Earlier this week, Ona submitted a sworn affidavit to the NBI in connection with the alleged anomalous purchase of P833 million worth of anti-pneumonia vaccines in 2012.

In a 10-page affidavit, Ona insisted that he chose PCV 10 that was a lot cheaper than PCV 13, and there was nothing questionable about the purchase.

“In the midst of the medical debate on which vaccine is more cost-effective, I, as the secretary of health, exercised my best judgment in deciding to procure PCV 10, instead of PCV 13. While I do not exactly recall the specific prices of each vaccine, I know that PCV 10 is substantially lower than PCV 13,” Ona said.

He added that contrary to news reports, the purchase of PCV 13 was never endorsed by the World Health Organization.