Ex-PNP Chief Camilo Cascolan (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)
HINDI katangga-tanggap para sa mga grupo ng health workers ang pagtatalaga sa bagong Health Undersecretary na si Camilo Cascolan.
Si Cascolan kasi ay dating PNP Chief sa administrasyong Duterte noong 2020 at ngayon nga ay pinalitan niya sa Department of Health (DOH) si Roger Tong-an bilang Undersecretary.
Sey ng grupo, “AHW believes that PBBM’s appointment of Cascolan is a clear manifestation of the President’s extreme lack of concern for the lives, health, safety and welfare of the health workers and the entire Filipino nation.”
Isang malaking insulto raw ito para sa mga “health expert” na siyang mga pinaka kwalipikado sa pwesto.
“Cascolan’s appointment is a huge insult to our health experts who are most qualified to administer and run the affairs of the DOH,” sabi ng AHW.
Ikinababahala ng grupo ang pagpili kay Cascolan at inisa-isa pa nila ang ilan sa mga naging papel ni Cascolan noong siya’y nanunungkulan pa bilang hepe ng PNP.
Saad sa pahayag, “The health workers are deeply concerned on the appointment of Cascolan as the retired General is known to be one of the brains behind the bloody Oplan Tokhang.
“Cascolan crafted the Oplan Double Barrel, the police’s bible in anti-drug operations under the Duterte administration which institutionalized the Oplan High-Value Target and Oplan Tokhang.
“The anti-drug campaign has killed thousands of Filipinos and victims have been deprived of justice up to now.”
Iginiit din nila na nais nilang makatrabaho ang isang eksperto sa nakakahawang sakit.
“They want to work with a health Undersecretary who is an expert in eradicating deadly and infectious diseases, not an expert in violating human rights and extrajudicial killings,” sabi ng AHW.
Samantala, nananawagan ang health workers group kay Pangulong Marcos na madaliin na ang pagtalaga ng bagong DOH secretary.
Panawagan nila, “Once again, health workers urgently call PBBM to appoint a DOH Secretary now.
“A DOH chief who is determined to protect and defend the health workers against discrimination, intimidation and violence including cases of red-tagging and killings.
“One who values the justness of the health workers call for salary increase, better benefits and humane working conditions.
“A DOH Chief that will prioritize the people’s health more than anything.”
Kinumpirma ng DOH nitong weekend na natanggap nila ang “appointment” ni Cascolan at ng bagong Assistang Undersecretary na si Atty. Charade Mercado-Grande.
Halos apat na buwan nang nanunungkulan bilang pangulo si Marcos angunit wala pa rin siyang napipiling kalihim sa DOH.
Kamakailan ay sinabi ng Chief Executive na prayoridad niya muna na maalis sa bansa ang pag-iral ng “public health emergency” at “state of calamity” dahil sa covid-19 pandemic.
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