Sandiganbayan acquits ex-FDA chief over Tarlac health center case
THE PHILIPPINES’ anti-graft court has cleared a former chief of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of graft stemming from the raid and closure of a “natural medical center” in 2018, citing failure to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
In a 43-page decision, promulgated on Nov. 7, the Sandiganbayan Third Division found ex-FDA Director-General Nela Charade G. Puno not guilty of graft, clearing allegations that she acted with “bad faith, gross negligence, and grave abuse of authority” for shutting down a “cancer treatment center” for selling unregistered health products without following due process.
“The Court finds that the evidence offered by the prosecution could not simply sustain a verdict of conviction,” part of the ruling by Associate Justice Ronald B. Moreno stated.
The complaint was filed by a medical doctor who claimed that Ms. Puno’s decision caused harm to patients undergoing her treatment and employees she was forced to let go following the closure order.
The doctor also alleged the FDA decision forced her to retire from practicing medicine. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio
