(Eagle News) — Former Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial on Thursday said the husband of former Health Secretary Janette Garin pressured her into placing additional budget into Dengvaxia.
“You have to put additional budget for the dengue vaccine to continue this para naman di maprejudice ang first and second (shots) mo,” Ubial quoted Iloilo Rep. Oscar Garin as saying during the 2016 budget deliberations.
Ubial added that Cebu Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia had “insisted” that the vaccination program be expanded to include Cebu.
“There was a particular time in the budget hearing that it took us one hour of exchanges…. and badgering me, trying to make me commit to expand the implementation of the vaccine to Region 7. They will defer the budget of the DOH if I don’t do that,” she said.
Ubial’s nomination as health secretary was eventually rejected by the powerful Commission on Appointments, members of which include lawmakers from the House of Representatives.
But Former Health Secretary Garin said her husband was not a member of the CA.
“My point here, your honor, is sino po ba kami para impluwensyahan ang CA? It’s an independent body that should not be dragged in pointing accusations to the DOH,” she added.
She noted that it was “but natural” for lawmakers “to request for our constituents.”
“That is not threatening. Your honor, I would respect the personal views of Secretary Ubial, but coming from Senate and then from the Cabinet, we always serve at the disposal of the people, our superiors and whoever appointed us,” she said.