Garin stays as acting DOH chief

MANILA, Philippines - Acting Secretary Janette Garin will remain at the helm of the Department of Health with the resignation of Enrique Ona, Malacañang said yesterday.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said over radio dzRB President Aquino would continue to assess the reports involving Ona’s cases.

But Lacierda refused to give details, including why exactly the health chief resigned and why the Chief Executive readily accepted his resignation.

Aquino has also not yet decided on the permanent replacement for Ona, he said.

“What happens is we keep the status quo,” Lacierda said.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said it was Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. who informed Ona of the President’s acceptance of his resignation on Friday.

“Suffice it to say that since Secretary Ike Ona wrote a letter to the President about his courtesy resignation, the President deemed it best to accept the resignation,” Lacierda said.

“We do not know the context of the resignation letter so it’s a matter between the President and Secretary Ike Ona, so we will leave it at that in the meantime,” he added.

Lacierda also assured the public there would be no disruption of work and services at the Department of Health.

“The ongoing projects, that will continue...Acting Secretary Janette Garin has been tasked to oversee all the ongoing projects and the operations of the Department of Health,” Lacierda said.