MANILA, Philippines — Health reform advocate Dr. Tony Leachon filed a cyberlibel complaint against Congressman and former Department of Health (DOH) secretary Janette Garin over allegedly defamatory statements she made online.
In a statement Thursday, Leachon said that the video—which was posted on May 22—showed Garin accusing Leachon of “killing a patient without seeing the patient” and making other defamatory remarks ridiculing his professional competence.
“This case is not about silencing critics. It is about drawing the line between fair comment and malicious falsehood. Integrity in governance and integrity in discourse are inseparable. Truth matters,” Leachon said.
Also on Thursday, Leachon filed a supplemental affidavit including former Department of Budget and Management (DBM) secretary Amenah Pangandaman in the plunder and technical malversation complaint he filed last Monday against Executive Secretary and former Finance secretary Ralph Recto and other people.
These stemmed from the transfer of P60 billion from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to the national treasury.
Leachon included Pangandaman "only to the extent of acts...occurring during her tenure as" DBM secretary.
Recto has said, "The Supreme Court justices themselves said that I have no criminal liability because I 'simply followed the law and implemented it in good faith.'"
He also said that he did not financially benefit from the said funds.
