Palace rejects Leachon’s call for IATF abolition

Roque claimed that Leachon was only sourgraping since he wants to be named chief of the Department of Health

Malacañang on Tuesday junked the call of former government adviser Dr. Tony Leachon to abolish the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) over its previous decisions, which he said were not based on science.

Presidential spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque claimed that Leachon was only “sourgraping” since he wants to be named chief of the Department of Health (DoH).

“The President has addressed your views. You are sourgraping because he did not appoint you as DoH Secretary,” Roque said in a press conference.

Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. also hit back at Leachon, saying he was incompetent and difficult to work with during his stint in the National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19.

Leachon served as special adviser to the NTF but he resigned from his post last June after Galvez told him to do so.

“You did not do your best at the NTF. You have an ulterior motive, aside from serving our people, so we removed you from your post,” Galvez said.

“You don’t have word of honor. And you’re difficult to work with,” Galvez added.

Leachon served as special adviser to the NTF but he resigned from his post last June after Galvez told him to do so.

The issue stemmed from Leachon’s new criticisms on the IATF after the body approved the resumption of cinema operations in general community quarantine areas, including Metro Manila, but later deferred it after metro mayors raised concerns over the policy.

“It’s the point of relevance — some IATF guidelines (were) not science-based and overruled by PRRD & rejected by MM mayors,” he wrote in a tweet.

“Lots of debates on IATF guidelines which sow divisiveness and confusion, rather than inspire the people to roll with the punches and wait for the vaccines which we all need now,” Leachon added.

In a separate social media post, he denied speculations that he is seeking the top DoH post.

“I have a higher sense of purpose. I’m happy where I am as a practicing clinician,” he said.

Leachon has been vocal in his criticisms of the administration’s pandemic response, even if he was still adviser to the NTF.

He stepped down from the body last year after he had claimed that the DoH “lost focus” in addressing the pandemic as he lamented on what he called unreliable and delayed reporting of coronavirus cases.

He later said he was fired from his post due to the lobbying of Roque and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

One of the leading internists and cardiologists at the Manila Doctors Hospital, Leachon has been recognized for authoring the Health Education Reform Order as chair of the Advocacy Committee of the Philippine College of Physicians in 2007.