After going to the Office of the Ombudsman, the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) has now asked the Department of Health (DOH) to conduct its own probe against a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) official who allegedly sat on hundreds of drug applications for automatic renewal, with some pending since 2013.
In his letter to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, ARTA Secretary Jeremiah Belgica noted the prima facie case the Authority found against FDA Center for Drug Regulation and Research (CDRR) Director Jesusa Joyce Cirunay.
Belgica attached to his letter copies of the Disposition and Complaint-Affidavit which ARTA filed against Cirunay before the Ombudsman last week.
The documents enumerate 420 counts of violations of Section 21 (e) of Republic Act (RA) No. 11032, otherwise known as the “Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018,” for failure to render government services within the prescribed processing time, resulting from Cirunay’s response to the May 11 show-cause order issued by ARTA.
“In this regard…the Authority respectfully recommends that an investigation be conducted against her (Cirunay) for possible violations of RA No. 6713, otherwise known as the “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees” and RA No. 3019, otherwise known as the “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,” Belgica wrote Duque.
The ARTA czar also encouraged the DOH to look into other appropriate laws against Cirunay that may be deemed proper based on the Authority’s investigation.
With this, Belgica hopes for the “usual prompt and favorable action” of the Health chief on the matter.
Under RA 9711 or the law which renamed the former Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) to FDA, the latter shall be under the Office of the Secretary of the DOH, and the Center’s directors shall be appointed by the Secretary of Health.
ARTA will also refer the case to the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission for lifestyle check. (ARTA) -jlo
