Libel vs. Lastimosa

Health official takes heat for dengue queries

by Sun-Star Daily Cebu
 

For issuing conflicting statements to the media, the Cebu City Health Department chief drew the ire of some councilors yesterday after her statements prompted a radio commentator to raise allegations of graft against city councilors.

In an executive session yesterday, the City Council clarified to the media and assured the public that all procedures and requirements have been complied with before they purchased anti-dengue chemicals.

A former city health officer also defended the council, saying the purchase of P1.5 million worth of chemicals is valid.

Despite the spraying activities, the number of dengue cases in the city continued to increase, from 704 cases last Aug. 9 to 767 cases as of Aug. 16.

Twenty-one deaths have been recorded so far since the listing started last January.

Libel charge

The Council is also contemplating on the filing of a libel complaint against radio dyAB news anchor Leo Lastimosa for insinuating that councilors got commissions from the purchase.

Vice Mayor Michael Rama reacted to Lastimosa's reports that the council authorized the purchase even if City Health Department Chief Fe Cabugao said they don't need the chemicals.

But at the session yesterday, Cabugao told the council that she signed the purchase request for Aqua Resigen weeks after she was appointed as city health officer in January.

"It's good that now she is finally admitting to this Council that she signed a request," an irate Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera said.

The council approved last February the purchase of 500 liters of resigen worth P1.5 million. The chemicals were delivered to the City only this month.

Cabugao admitted that she signed the purchase request but the request was made during their budget proposal meeting last year yet, when the sanitary division asked for more chemicals.

Cautious

"I did not say categorically that we don't need the chemicals. I only said we have to be cautious in using it because there are harmful effects," she explained to the Council.

Rama called for the executive session to clarify insinuations of Lastimosa that the Council hastily declared a state of calamity so the councilors can make money.

"But as a responsible department head, you would sign a request because you fully believe the chemicals are useful to the constituents, not just because your subordinates asked for it and you are afraid to displease your personnel. Tell us if you need it or you don't need it," said Pesquera.

Councilor Gerardo Carillo said he was upset when he heard Cabugao over the radio disown that she signed the request.

"Tell us what you need and you don't need rather than talk to the media and say we don't need it. If you feel you don't need the chemicals, then don't sign it," Vice Mayor Rama said.

Rama also asked Cabugao why they continue fogging and misting activities using Aqua Resigens when former city health chief Felicitas Manaloto already said it is harmful to the environment.

Because mist blowing using resigen has the least harmful effects, former city health officer Estella Ygoña said they shifted from fogging to misting, although they are still using the same chemicals.

Management

Ygona said, though, that misting or surface spraying will be done only in the houses and immediate surroundings of dengue patients in order to kill the adult-infecting mosquitoes.

She stressed that effective environmental management is still the only way to kill the larvae of dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

"So the purchase of 500 liters is still valid," Ygoña said.

With this said, Councilor Hilario Davide III said the Council has enough basis to file libel complaints against Lastimosa.

"I feel aggrieved because of his malicious statements. What facts does he have to say that the Council indeed made money?

It's up to us now what actions we would take against Mr. Lastimosa," the councilor said.

Since Lastimosa did not attend the first executive session last Aug. 11, the Council invited him again to the resumption of yesterday's session on Wednesday.

Rama also required Cabugao to submit in the next session the guidelines on how the city health department is implementing their dengue program.

He also said Cabugao should submit a report that fogging and misting are still options for the City to address dengue problems. (LCR)