By Dr. Tony Leachon
In recent days, former Health Secretary Janette Garin has spoken ill of me following my testimony in the Dengvaxia case. I have chosen, for the most part, to ignore such remarks. Yet I cannot ignore the larger truth: the Dengvaxia tragedy claimed the lives of children, eroded public trust in vaccination, and continues to demand accountability.
It is important to note that Ms. Garin faces multiple pending cases before the Sandiganbayan and the Quezon City Regional Trial Court. These include 35 criminal complaints of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, tied to the deaths of children allegedly caused by the ₱3.5 billion Dengvaxia mass vaccination program launched in 2015. Judge Michael Ken de Jesus of QC RTC Branch 102 has ruled that each child victim represents a distinct act of negligence that must be heard in full trial.
I speak not to malign, but to affirm: the pursuit of truth is not personal, it is moral. Silence in the face of systemic wrongdoing is complicity. My testimony was not against an individual, but for the Filipino people—especially the families who continue to grieve and seek justice.
And yet, how can legislators defend an Executive Secretary who has become a burden to the people? Ralph Recto is facing two plunder charges and alleged technical malversation. He authored the Expanded VAT Law (EVAT), which burdened ordinary Filipinos with higher costs of fuel, electricity, and basic services. He blocked reforms to reduce VAT from 12% to 10% and resisted suspending excise taxes on fuel—policies that could have eased the suffering of millions. He orchestrated the unconstitutional transfer of ₱60 billion in PhilHealth funds to the National Treasury, later struck down by the Supreme Court, deepening the crisis in healthcare financing.
To defend such a record is not loyalty to the people—it is complicity in their suffering. Legislators who side with Recto must ask themselves: are they defending governance, or enabling injustice?
Leadership is not about protecting vested interests. It is about integrity, accountability, and service. When trust is lost, governance collapses.
I am not political. I am not gunning for any post, nor do I wish to be Secretary of Health. I am content where I am, serving with purpose and meaning. My two decades in the corporate world have taught me the principles of corporate governance—transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership—principles that I believe should guide both public service and private institutions.
The Dengvaxia case is not about ambition. It is about integrity. It is about ensuring that the mistakes of the past are not repeated, and that the Filipino people are never again subjected to policies that compromise their health and safety.
Even in grief, I remain committed to speaking truth with respect, evidence, and restraint. My hope is that this discourse will not be reduced to personal attacks, but elevated to the level of justice, reform, and healing for our nation.
#RelentlessForChange
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