IT SEEMS the Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Raul Gonzalez dislikes the Regional Director of the Department of Health, Field Unit 6, Director Lydia Depra Ramos. On why we have yet to know.

But this writer has a story of medicine anomaly in DOH Field Unit 6 at Mandurriao, Iloilo City. It was only their misfortune that this despicable story won’t go away – the discovery of expired medicine in cartons worth millions.

In fairness to Dir. Depra Ramos (who has also no sterling performance to crow about as regional director), the discovery of expired medicines was during the term of office of then Regional Director Mercedita Cabaneyro.

The story started when this writer and broadcaster Soc Abonado (now a Sangguniang Bayan member of Janiuay) accidentally bumped the expired medicines in cartons outside the warehouse of DOH Regional Office in Mandurriao.

We invited a photo-journalist to take pictures of the unused medicines. But we were soon discovered by a staff who reported to the director. They called a compound guard to drive us away, one who even threatened to shoot us if we refuse to leave.

Luckily we were able to get the pictures and list of the expired medicine which include imported vitamins. The estimated total cost of all the expired medicines was amounting to over fifteen million pesos (P15M).

The P15M in 1994 was already a big sum. We brought the issue to the print-media and over the air but when we returned with other media practitioners to check the warehouse , the vicinity was already clean.

When barrage of negative tirades started against Dir. Cabaneyro, the issue has dragged the name of some respected personalities in the DOH. It was only a misfortune for the working media that the culprits who did it were never prosecuted.

After the issue died down, we thought that everything at the DOH Field Unit 6 returned to normal. But again the shock of our lives happened. The 1997 supplies inventory led by Ms. Nona Flores, Nurse IV resulted again to the discovery of expired medicines in millions of pesos.

The rough estimated of the cost was over seven million pesos (P7M) This DOH officials’ racket is no longer a cheap shot as it can put the senses of an honest man in the brink of insanity. But this time, the probe on expired-medicine anomalies started.

As a result, some respected officials in the regional office were sacked and deprived of all their benefits. Perhaps, that was what they really deserved for being stupid. DOH lowly employees are most sorely tempted to steal but don’t, what a shame!

But this is not only what we are looking for. There are so many poor and sick people who died for lack of medicines. Yet, here comes a health department of the government with officials so derelict in their duties and responsibilities.

This is the problem in government instrumentalities ran by kin or friends of influential figures in society. They were hired not on what they know but on whom they know. They lead without managerial capability but appointed by political expediency.

Had the chief occupant of the DOH Field Unit 6 distributed the medicines to the needy before expiration, it could have saved hundreds or even thousands of lives. This is the problem if the director does not understand her responsibilities and accountabilities attendant thereto.

Going back to DOH in Mandurriao, there was a saddening report after typhoon Frank devastated Panay Island. That Dir. Depra Ramos had asked for support of medicines from the city government. On how true, she has yet to disclose.

But this creates an erroneous suspicion without affirming the perception that the DOH Field Unit 6 is in dysfunction. Had the health department stopped purchasing supplies for its regional offices nationwide?

Secretary Gonzalez said the DOH is still alive, only its regional office here is seemingly dead. Well, this office should be cleansed and reinvigorated, otherwise, it will earned its mark in modern history as departamento de los ladrones – a department of thieves!

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