Janette Garin on DOH project scam: 'Paulyn Ubial extended contract'

MANILA, Philippines — There was nothing anomalous in a project of the Department of Health (DOH) involving the construction of 5,700 barangay health stations across the country, according to former health secretary Janette Garin.

“If it was anomalous, why did (former DOH secretary Paulyn) Ubial extend the contract?... I dare Secretary (Francisco) Duque to file cases against Ubial who extended... the said anomalous contract,” Garin said yesterday.

Garin also questioned Duque’s motive for exposing the alleged scam, saying he “allowed himself to become a pawn to destroy the previous administration.”

Duque on Monday said Garin signed the contract for the project worth P1.8 billion.

Duque said heads would roll over the anomaly.

”They will be given due process, but we have to reorganize again so... they will not influence the investigation,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ubial said she continued the project “because of presumption of regularity,” but noted that she reported it to the Commission on Audit (COA) when she “saw the problems.”

“The paper trail and chronology of events will show what I did... I will explain my side if and when I get  the COA memo or ombudsman case,” she said.

Ubial asked Garin not to drag her name into the controversy and just explain why she undertook ”such a poorly prepared project.”

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duque should gather documents on the alleged scam and submit them to the ombudsman for prosecution. – With Alexis Romero