Several members of the House of Representatives pushed back Monday against demands for Executive Secretary Ralph Recto to step down, turning their fire instead on the doctor leading the charge against him.
Former Department of Health adviser Tony Leachon had called on Recto to resign over what he described as P60 billion in “excess” PhilHealth funds that ended up transferred to government coffers, and accused him of resisting efforts to reduce tax rates during his time as finance secretary. But legislators were having none of it, questioning both Leachon’s motives and his qualifications to weigh in on economic policy.
Deputy Speaker and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin raised doubts about whether Leachon’s background even included public health, suggesting his credentials to speak on such issues were shakier than his self-described role as a public health advocate implies.
Manila Rep. Joel Chua was more blunt about the boundaries he thinks Leachon should observe. “Dr. Leachon is not an economist,” he said in Filipino. “It would be better for him to focus on the profession he claims to know, and leave economic matters to economists.”
House Deputy Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur dismissed Leachon’s criticism of Recto in sharper terms. “Leachon is like a broken record,” Adiong said. “He should focus on his patients instead of calling for the resignation of Executive Secretary Recto.”
Leachon had not responded to a request for comment as of press time.
