THE anti-smoking group Health Justice Philippines (HJP) yesterday criticized the Marcos administration for accepting the donation of four mobile clinics from tobacco giant Philip Morris International (PMI), saying it may set a “dangerous precedent.”
In a statement, HGP said the actions of the Marcos administration are unacceptable as it contradicts existing tobacco control policies set under the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the Department of Health (DOH-Civil Service Commission (CSC) Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) 2010-01.
“The acceptance of four mobile clinics from Philip Morris International (PMI) — received at the Palace, with the PMI global CEO present, and facilitated by the Office of the First Lady — has set a dangerous precedent,” said HJP.
“We have allowed the intrusion of an industry, whose very business is built on addiction, disease, and death; an industry we committed, through international treaty, to keep away from public policy,” it added.
Specifically, the group said such an act normalizes the presence of the tobacco industry in public service.
“It signals that the government is willing to compromise public health for the optics of generosity,” said HJP.
What makes it worse, it said, is that the Philippines was once a model for FCTC Article 5.3 implementation, celebrated for its progressive, principled stance in keeping the tobacco industry out of government.
“This is not a simple misstep. It is an act of institutional alignment with an industry built on harm,” said HJP.
Lastly, the group said that by accepting the donation and aligning itself with Philip Morris International, the Philippine government is not just breaching a policy but is also violating a human right.
“The right to health, protected under international law, is not optional. PMI is recognized globally as one of the world’s worst human rights violators,” said HJP.
Earlier, executives of Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Company (PMFTC) made a ceremonial turnover of four mobile clinics to the Philippine government to be used for the “Lab For All” project of the Department of Health and the Office of First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.
Present during the ceremony held in Malacañang were Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, Araneta-Marcos, and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian.
