Dr. Tony Leachon resigns as DOH adviser

Physician and health advocate Dr. Tony Leachon resigned as the Department of Health (DOH) Special Adviser for Noncommunicable Diseases on September 11, citing personal reasons and a wish to refocus on his family.

Leachon stated in his resignation letter that the decision was best for him, his family, and his future.

His resignation came hours after Iloilo 1st District Representative Janette Garin questioned his DOH post and qualifications.

Garin's questioning of Leachon's qualifications appears to stem from his past comments during the Dengvaxia controversy and his lack of a postgraduate degree in public health.

Leachon mentioned in a Facebook post that he resigned after a House of Representatives hearing where he was branded as "not a public health expert" by a lawmaker, adding he wanted to spare his family from the matter.

The DOH expressed respect for Leachon's decision and thanked him for his support, noting he volunteered for the position.

This follows a pattern of Leachon resigning from advisory roles, including a previous resignation from the National Task Force against COVID-19 in 2020 due to policy differences.