P’sinan execs probe dumping of drugs

By Jennelyn Mondejar

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Gov. Amado Espino Jr. has formed a team to investigate multimillion-peso worth of medicine dug up, based on a tip-off, in the engineering compound of the provincial capitol here starting June 6.

“The dumping is a waste of government funds,” said retired police colonel Paterno Orduña, who heads the team.

He said he would conduct thorough investigation, as the dumped medicine was being dug up.

Orduña cited initial information that two dump trucks transported the vials of medicine and dumped them in an excavation as deep as two persons.

“Maybe that’s worth millions,” he said. “In due time, as investigation progresses, we will know who are behind this illegal disposal.”

“It was done in haste,” he said, citing information those who hauled and dumped the medicine were scolded because they were acting slow.

Orduña wondered why the vials of medicine were disposed of when some were still sealed and could still be used.

He said they would recommend to the governor to seek the help of the National Bureau of Investigation for an impartial probe.

Based on information they gathered, Orduña said the dumping, reportedly using a backhoe, was done between 2005 and 2006. Espino took over as governor in 2007.

Dr. Jackson Soriano, officer-in-charge of the provincial health office, said among those dug up were metrodinazole used for amoebiasis, antibiotics for certain abdominal infections, condoms, blood bags, contraceptive pills, anesthesia, IV tubing, anti-TB drugs, antiseptic solution, ascorbic acid, and other tablets.

Some of the drugs had expiry dates in 1998 and 2004.
“

We should procure what is only needed by our constituents to avoid wastage,” he said.

In cases of unused drugs that have expired, Soriano said these are placed in a vault or a secluded area “but rarely do we have such a situation.”

Orduña agreed with Soriano that even if the drugs were already expired, they should be disposed of in accordance with the rules on government properties.

This, as Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the expired medicine as well as medical supplies can only be disposed of with a clearance from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Duque, who hails from this province, told Aksyon Radyo Pangasinan in a phone interview yesterday that the provincial government should really conduct a thorough investigation into the dumping of the drugs and medical supplies.

He said the disposal of expired medicine must be in accordance with pyrolysis standards wherein the materials are decomposed or burned or buried but with clearance from the DENR.

“The place where it will be dumped must be identified, away from public offices, unlike the one done in Pangasinan which was within the premises of government offices,” he said.

Duque said the question of why the medicines expired and not distributed beforehand and the officials behind the dumping must be investigated.

The multimillion-peso drugs and other medical supplies were reportedly dumped in 2005 and 2007 during the incumbency of former governor Victor Agbayani.

Two separate letters from anonymous sources to Orduña and Espino detailing where the drugs were dumped led to the discovery.

For his part, Agbayani, who is now the second district congressman, said there is a need to establish facts about the matter.