REP. Michael Defensor (PL, Anakalusugan) yesterday warned Health Secretary Francisco Duque III he could be cited in contempt for snubbing the hearing of the House committee on good government and public accountability on the alleged questionable guidelines and policies of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
It was the second time Duque failed to attend the hearing of the panel which is looking into the FDA’s move to oppose the use of the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin to treat COVID-19.
Defensor, who has been pushing for the use of ivermectin to treat and prevent COVID-19, moved that the panel send a letter to Duque to demand his attendance in the next hearings and cite him in contempt if he does not comply.
The panel chaired by Rep. Michael Aglipay (PL, Diwa) approved the motion.
The FDA has warned against the use of ivermectin, saying any use of the veterinary product for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 “should be avoided as the benefits and safety for this purpose has not been established.”
It was only Last May 7 that the FDA granted a certificate of product registration (CPR) to a local company to register ivermectin for human anti-parasitic treatment. The FDA later said ivermectin can be used as an “off label” drug against COVID-19. Off-label use means a pharmaceutical drug is used for a disease or medical condition that it is not approved to treat.
The FDA has issued compassionate special permits private hospitals, allowing them to prescribe ivermectin to their patients.
While Aglipay said Duque did not explain to the panel the reasons for his absence, the secretary told online news reporters that he could not attend the past two hearings as he was too busy leading the country’s COVID-19 response. He said the first committee hearing was called amid an ongoing surge in the number of cases. He said he could not attend yesterday’s hearing as he was preparing for a meeting with President Duterte.
Defensor and Rep. Rodante Marcoleta (PL, Sagip) wanted Duque to answer questions hounding the FDA’s warning against the use of ivermectin which the two lawmakers continue to distribute to the public.
Deputy speaker Lito Atienza questioned the absence of FDA Director General Eric Domingo, saying lawmakers “are in hot pursuit of certain issues with the decision of the director general.”
Aglipay said he was informed that Domingo is on a one-month leave to attend to his ailing father.
The panel also later approved a motion of deputy speaker Bernadette Herrera urging the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) “to stop looking into revoking the licenses of doctors who are prescribing ivermectin.”
