Tony Leachon, an independent health reform advocate, denied on Wednesday that he wanted to replace Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo recently challenged Leachon to seek an elective post and let the voters decide on his fate.
Panelo also on Saturday hinted that health reform advocate Leachon wanted the position of Duque.
“Truth never damages a cause that is just. To announce that there must be no criticism of the pandemic response, or that we are to stand by the government right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile but is morally treasonable to our country,” said Leachon in a statement.
“The clear personal attack of Sec. Panelo against me is merely an attempt to misdirect the attention of the people from the real issues regarding the slow pandemic response.
“I dreamt of serving the government before but I have no future ambitions to be a public official. I’d like to spend my sunset years with my family, my patients, and continue doing meaningful advocacy work in healthcare.”
After his retirement from the corporate world in 2012, Leachon said, he volunteered as a one-peso consultant of the Department of Health to Sec. Enrique Ona and worked on the landmark sin tax law for tobacco and alcohol while practicing as an internist cardiologist and working as a health reform advocate.
In 2016, he said, several people wanted him to apply as DOH Secretary under the new administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“So through channels, I sent my curriculum vitae to the wife of Sec. Salvador Panelo, a colleague from the Philippine College of Physicians, Dr. Araceli Panelo. I applied as some kind of formality because many had invited me,” he said.
“I submitted in good faith, hoping I can add value to our healthcare system. Sec. Paulyn Ubial was chosen by PRRD. But she was blocked in the Commission on Appointments and was replaced by Sec. Duque,” Leachon said.
“I don’t desire and envy the post of Sec. Duque who has been asked to resign twice by the Senate and a lot of sectors due to his poor performance in the pandemic response, which so far has killed 10,749 Filipinos.”
Leachon, who has been critical of the government’s pandemic response, appeared to be fond of commenting on issues and drawing public attention to himself, according to Panelo.
“You want to be in the government? Then run. Run for any position and let us see how people will accept you. You’re fond of commenting on all issues anyway,” he said during his recent “Counterpoint” program on state television.
Panelo recently bared that Leachon had applied for the post of Secretary of the Department of Health in the early part of the Duterte presidency. He made the revelation after expressing dismay with Leachon’s supposed attempt to sow distrust in the government’s vaccination program.
“I’m calling you out because you are fanning the embers of doubt planted by the opposition and critics. I said you’re meddling. You want to get noticed,” Panelo told Leachon.