Sacked FDA Chief clueless on bribe allegations
Published on: Saturday, May 18, 2019
MANILA: Sacked Food and Drugs Administration Chief Nela Charade Puno on Friday stressed that she has not been subject to any corruption-related probe, but stands ready to face any allegations in any forum.“I take exception to the mention of so-called ‘corruption allegations’ because I am clueless as to what these are,” Puno said in a statement.
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President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the immediate termination of Puno’s appointment as director general of FDA on May 15. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo read the letter, signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, to reporters late Thursday afternoon.
Quoting from the letter, Panelo said Puno’s appointment had been terminated effective immediately, “in line with the president’s continuing mandate to eradicate graft and corruption and to ensure that public officials and employees conduct themselves in a manner worthy of public trust.”
Neither the letter nor Panelo expounded on the corruption allegations against Puno. Puno said that she received the letter Thursday afternoon. She said that she accepted her termination “without ill feelings.”
She, however, clarified that she has not been charged nor been investigated over any corruption allegations. Puno said that she is ready to face allegations thrown against her in any forum.
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