ARMED Forces chief Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. recently wrote to Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian to request boxes of a medicine for the use of his friends who have been infected with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The medicine, Carrimycin, has no approval from the Food and Drug Administration.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Tuesday said the “letter may have been out of place” as it should have been coursed through the Department of Foreign Affairs but the issue should be put to rest because Santos “had not
violated any regulations nor imperiled the security of the country.”
In the letter coursed through Col. Zheng Dazhi, Chinese defense and armed forces attaché, Santos requested Huang for five boxes of Carrimycin which is available only in China. Photos of the letter bearing the logo of Santos’ office spread online on Monday night.
Santos, who tested positive for COVID-19 last month, said a Chinese friend gave him Carrimycin tablets. He said he took two tablets a day for six days, with the clearance of his physician, during his treatment.
“I believe that the medicine helped in my recovery from the coronavirus infection and I intend to give the said drug to my close friends who have also been infected,” Santos said.
“I hope that this request merits the most favorable consideration of the ambassador. With my highest esteem and warmest regard,” Santos also said in the letter.
The military is in charge of protecting the country’s interest in the South China Sea which is being claimed wholly by China and in part by Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan and the Philippines. China has been aggressive in its claims over the past years.
AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said Santos withdrew the letter on Sunday after learning the medicine has not been approved by the FDA.
“The CSAFP (chief of staff AFP) acted in good faith. He believes he has been cured by the medicine and it was effective. He doesn’t want to keep the cure to himself and would like to share his experience to some of his friends,” said Arevalo.
Arevalo stressed Santos sought the assistance of the Chinese ambassador to procure the medicine “since it is available only in China.”
“We do not see any conflict of interest. This is about medicine that the AFP chief feels can save people’s lives. That is more compelling,” said Arevalo.
At the “Laging Handa” press briefing on Tuesday, Lorenzana said he spoke with Santos on Monday night and the latter admitted making the request. He said Santos should have coursed his letter to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
“Ang sabi ko naman ay inamin na niya yung pagkakamali niya …Wala naman siyang kasalanan na nag-violate ng regulation or imperiled our national security, kaya we will let the matter rest kasi he already admitted and explained to me the reason why he did it (I said he has admitted his mistake … He did not violate any regulation or imperiled our national security so we will let the matter rest because he already admitted and explained to me the reason why he did it),” said Lorenzana.
