Leachon leaves Task Force Covid post

DR. ANTHONY Leachon has left his post as special adviser of the National Task Force on Covid-19 (NTF-Covid 19).

Leachon said he was asked to resign after criticizing the Department of Health for losing its focus in the fight against the coronavirus.

“It is with deepest regret that I announce that I am not anymore the Special Adviser of National Adviser-Covid-19 effective today,” he said on Twitter.

“I have my full respect for Sec. Charlie Galvez and we will remain as good friends. Lots of good memories. But I have to move on,” he added, referring to National Action Plan chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr., also the presidential peace process adviser.

In an interview with CNN Philippines, Leachon disclosed that he spoke with Galvez on Tuesday night.

“I think I was asked to resign, that’s the real [reason for my departure],” he said in Filipino and English. “But I think it’s an acceptance on my part because I don’t want to add burden to Secretary Galvez and I have the highest respect for Secretary Galvez.”

Leachon added that his statements revealing gaps on how the Health department handled data management and risk communication did not sit well with Health

Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd.

“He (Galvez) told me that he had spoken with [Palace spokesman] Secretary Harry Roque [ Jr.] and Secretary Duque about my tweets and my social media posts. That did not sit well with them, the manner I communicated to the public as to the many lapses of the Department of Health,” he said.

Galvez said that they had to let go of Leachon “because the Covid-19 Inter- Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and NTF have to work in synch with each other.”

He added that Leachon’s releases of information jeopardized the communication efforts of the IATF, causing misunderstanding.

“He has been cautioned but remained deaf to collegial advise,” Galvez added.

‘Our institutions are not perfect but I can assure you that the majority of those who serve are doing so with a lot of dedication even at the risk of their own lives,” he added, as he expressed support to the DoH and medical frontliners.

“We cannot afford to be divisive in this fight where coming together as one will make us stronger to face this global health issue,” Galvez said.