Earlier today, I saw in one of the posts endorsing my candidacy, a comment from a Veterinarian who accused me of conveniently leaving DA “when the ASF came in.”
All the while, I thought that it was just a poorly researched comment so I posted a clarification.
It was only when she crossed the line and insinuated that I was involved in questionable importation when I decided to check who she really.is.
Dr. Roselle Cudal turned out to be a member of the Crisis Management Team formed by Sec. William Dar following the outbreak of the African Swine Fever in Montalban, Rizal. It was she, according to sources in the DA, who recommended to delay the declaration of an outbreak.
This was a fatal move because that also delayed other interventions.
Now, she is accusing me of leaving DA because I could not handle the ASF.
She failed to check that while the first report of the outbreak of the African Swine Fever (ASF) came out in late August of 2019, I had actually submitted my resignation as DA Secretary on June 26, 2019.
It took President Duterte 41 days to name my replacement, Sec. Dar.
At that time the ASF outbreak was reported, I had already moved to the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) as Chairman having assumed the position Aug. 5.
Assuming na nakapasok ang ASF sa bansa noong panahon ko sa DA Secretary, I could and would have handled it successfully.
Please remember Dr. Cudal that under my leadership the Bird Flu Outbreak in Pampanga and Nueva Ecija in August 2017 was contained in 45 days.
Let me repeat that IN 45 DAYS!
On the other hand, the ASF has continued to devastate the hog industry for three years now.
If you want to know how we did it, the answer is simple:
1. I personally handled the problem and went Ground Zero to consult with leaders and farmers;
2. We worked with Governors and Mayors of Pampanga and Nueva Ecija;
3. Implemented strict quarantine protocols involving the Army, Police and even the Firemen and established checkpoints culling all chicken, birds and quails;
4. DA compensated the farmers fairly and payments were downloaded to the LGUs which were immediately released; and most of all,
5. DA established a no-nonsense depopulation and disposal protocols supervised by competent veterians led by Asec. Enrico Garzon, Dr. Ronnie Domingo and Dr. Arlene Vytiaco.
After the outbreak, DA came up with a manual on how to handle bio-security challenges like the Bird Flu based on the experiences.
When the ASF was first reported in Europe and China, DA prepared but apparently even our best efforts were not enough, especially with poor information dissemination.
I have to make this clarificatory post because Dr. Cudal’s post carries malicious insinuations.
She missed the fact that I remain as the only Cabinet Secretary who voluntarily submitted to a lifestyle check by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) which, aided by the AMLAC, declared that I passed the intense scrutiny.
People could call me incompetent and I would leave them to their perception of my performance.
But when somebody like Dr. Cudal insinuates that I am corrupt, I will take a fighting stance and demand that they prove it.
My clean record in public service is my legacy to my children and I will not allow anybody to besmirch my name.
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