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House Leaders Hit Leachon Over Complaints Against Cabinet Officials
Photo credit: Dr. Tony Leachon
Several House leaders on Tuesday criticized former COVID-19 task force adviser Tony Leachon over the plunder and malversation complaints he filed against Executive Secretary Ralph Recto and other government officials, accusing him of politicizing the issue and misleading the public about how government reserve funds are managed.
The complaints stemmed from the transfer of around P60 billion in unused reserve funds from Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and another P107 billion from the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation to the national treasury under provisions of the 2024 General Appropriations Act.
Deputy Speaker Janette Garin said Leachon was unfairly targeting officials who were only implementing what Congress had already authorized under the national budget law.
Garin argued that if Leachon truly believed the transfers were illegal, he should also question lawmakers who approved the measure.
She also hinted that Leachon may be receiving encouragement from certain groups to continue attacking Recto, challenging him to reveal who was allegedly behind the accusations.
Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong said Leachon appeared more focused on stirring controversy rather than discussing genuine accountability concerns.
According to Adiong, accountability should be applied consistently and not only when it fits a political agenda.
Meanwhile, House Committee on Higher and Technical Education chair Jude Acidre said Leachon misunderstood the nature of reserve funds.
Acidre explained that reserve funds are intentionally kept unused unless needed and should not be portrayed as abandoned money that government officials simply took for themselves.
“That is a gross distortion of how fiscal management works,” Acidre said.
Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega also accused Leachon of turning the issue into a political attack, pointing to the recent electoral losses of some of Leachon’s relatives.
Ortega said the complaints were being presented as public advocacy when they were actually politically motivated.
Garin further suggested that Leachon’s criticisms could also be linked to his long-standing ambition to become Health secretary, saying he often positions himself publicly whenever a new administration comes in.
She added that Leachon was reportedly not being considered by the current search committee for the Health post.
The complaints stemmed from the transfer of around P60 billion in unused reserve funds from Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and another P107 billion from the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation to the national treasury under provisions of the 2024 General Appropriations Act.
Deputy Speaker Janette Garin said Leachon was unfairly targeting officials who were only implementing what Congress had already authorized under the national budget law.
Garin argued that if Leachon truly believed the transfers were illegal, he should also question lawmakers who approved the measure.
She also hinted that Leachon may be receiving encouragement from certain groups to continue attacking Recto, challenging him to reveal who was allegedly behind the accusations.
Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong said Leachon appeared more focused on stirring controversy rather than discussing genuine accountability concerns.
According to Adiong, accountability should be applied consistently and not only when it fits a political agenda.
Meanwhile, House Committee on Higher and Technical Education chair Jude Acidre said Leachon misunderstood the nature of reserve funds.
Acidre explained that reserve funds are intentionally kept unused unless needed and should not be portrayed as abandoned money that government officials simply took for themselves.
“That is a gross distortion of how fiscal management works,” Acidre said.
Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega also accused Leachon of turning the issue into a political attack, pointing to the recent electoral losses of some of Leachon’s relatives.
Ortega said the complaints were being presented as public advocacy when they were actually politically motivated.
Garin further suggested that Leachon’s criticisms could also be linked to his long-standing ambition to become Health secretary, saying he often positions himself publicly whenever a new administration comes in.
She added that Leachon was reportedly not being considered by the current search committee for the Health post.
May 26, 2026
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