MANILA, Philippines — A collective of medical professionals, led by former Health Secretary and current Iloilo 1st District Representative Janette Garin, has formally asked the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to investigate health reform advocate Dr. Tony Leachon for alleged violations of the medical code of ethics.
The complainants argue that Leachon has publicly disseminated misleading information on critical medical matters—including vaccines—and frequently commented on topics outside his professional scope.
According to the group, these statements have compromised the credibility of physicians, disrupted clinical research, and eroded public trust in immunization programs.
During the filing, former Department of Health Undersecretary and toxicologist Kenneth Hartigan Go cautioned against overstepping professional boundaries:
”Be careful because you are wearing a white coat. People will associate you to be an expert of everything, but we have to know our limits and we should not have an opinion of everything.”
Garin further linked rising vaccine hesitancy to the resurgence of previously controlled illnesses such as measles and polio, alongside outbreaks of rubella, Japanese encephalitis, and persistently low hepatitis B immunization rates.
To substantiate their grievances, the physicians submitted substantial documentation, centering heavily on Leachon’s past remarks regarding the Dengvaxia dengue vaccine.
While Leachon has previously raised questions regarding the sufficiency of the vaccine’s pre-release evaluations, Dr. Socorro Lupisan, former director of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, countered that proper protocols were strictly followed:
”It was reviewed by institution review board. Natapos ang studies, 25 months of monitoring. It was completed before the CPR was issued.”
Additionally, Dr. Julius Lecciones, former director of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, contested Leachon’s utilization of the term “viscerotropism” when discussing liver-related impacts associated with the vaccine, asserting that the terminology was inaccurate and unnecessarily intensified public anxiety.
The medical group is urging the PRC to execute a thorough inquiry and impose accountability if regulatory breaches are verified.
In response, Leachon issued a statement confirming his readiness to address the allegations while vowing to press forward with his advocacy for Dengvaxia victims.
He also characterized the formal complaint as a calculated maneuver to stifle his voice, appealing to authorities to ensure the investigation does not obstruct justice for those affected.