Netizens expressed their reactions on how Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor felt after being in question for the doctor’s prescription of his Ivermectin he is distributing on Friday, April 30. Is this a reverse scenario of what he did during the ABS-CBN franchise hearing last year?
Defensor, who distributed the anti-parasitic drug along with Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta said that the concerns about the prescriptions were “immaterial.”
In the Defensor’s defense, the use of medical paper is unnecessary since the drug was not available anywhere else. Moreover, he argued that the people knew the doctors who prescribed Ivermectin.
“Para sa akin kasi, immaterial. Di ba yung reseta, para malaman mo, sino nagbigay ng reseta, e apat lang naman na doktor yun. Kilala naman ng mga pasyente kung sino yung doktor,” he said.
“Yung reseta mo naman, hindi pwedeng dalhin ng botika dahil wala namang binebentang Ivermectin kung hindi nandun lang, 15 meters away.”
All Defensor could say, “So para sa akin, parang humahanap sila ng butas na lang.”
He is also willing to fight the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in court if the agency tries to stop his Ivermectin distribution.
Defensor’s bold statement was met by celebrities and Netizens who did not forget what did during ABS-CBN’s franchise hearing.
Twitter personality France Sajorda questioned the Defensor if the current issue with Ivermectin brought back memories, particularly with the Kapamilya Network’s franchise hearing.
Parang ginawa mo sa ABS-CBN?
https://t.co/hRfAA9HaMW
— Miss France Sajorda (@PrincessFrance) April 29, 2021
Talent manager-actor, Ogie Diaz remembered how Defensor tried his best to find loopholes against ABS-CBN’s franchise that led to closure in 2020.
With the lawmaker facing a possible lawsuit, Diaz then asked how does it feel to be on the receiving end.
Ganun din naman ginawa mo sa abs-cbn. Hinanapan mo ng butas, di ba? So alam mo na pakiramdam ngayon? https://t.co/OuvPnbXqGi
— ogie diaz (@ogiediaz) April 30, 2021
Journalist Barnaby Lo took a swipe at Defensor for attacking his critics.
The reporter recalled that Defensor during ABS-CBN’s franchise hearing was all about “law is law.” But with the drug’s illegalities, the lawmaker is not allowing anyone to point out its legal flaws.
Pag ABS-CBN the law is the law. Pag distribution nila ng unregistered drug, ie. Ivermectin, hindi pwedeng i-point out ang legal loopholes? https://t.co/wgnwa7JAcR
— Barnaby Lo 吳宗鴻 (@barnabychuck) April 30, 2021
TV personality Kiko Rustia highlighted Defensor’s inconsistency.
According to Rustia, during the ABS-CBN franchise hearing, the lawmaker was very firm that the Network must adhere to the law. But when it comes to Ivermectin, the congressman is then willing to break the law.
Di ako palamura pero pa isa lang dito- ulul mo
Law is law sa ABSCBN na pinasara mo, pero dito sa bawal na gamot oks lang at ipipilit mo? Isa lang MAPAGSAMANTALANG OPPORTUNISTANG DUWAG na di kayang harapin ang responsibilidad pag may nagkasakit at namatay sa gamot na pinipilit mo
— kiko rustia (@kikorustia) April 30, 2021
A Netizen reiterated Rustia’s sentiment.
He urged Defensor to follow the government’s requirements in terms of Covid-19 medications. Moreover, he wanted the lawmaker to be more consistent with his principles just like what he had shown against ABS-CBN.
Comply first with government requirements. That's what you advocated with ABS-CBN. We need more consistency. https://t.co/LOqLcf8g06
— Phaura Reinz (@PhauraReinz) April 30, 2021
Some noted that Defensor’s Ivermectin backlash became the consequence of his relentless efforts in finding dirt against the Kapamilya Network.
Parang karma. Katulad nung kakahanap niya ng butas sa franchise. Asan na po yung “law is law”? ** https://t.co/wfz2pPTh2a
— TOPER (@xferjay) April 30, 2021
Screenwriter Anjeli Pessumal pointed out how Marcoleta and Defensor showed no care about the illegality of their distribution of Ivermectin.
However, when it comes to ABS-CBN, the two went all out and demanded “absurd requirements” from the Network.
Considering all the absurd requirements Marcoleta and Defensor demanded from ABS-CBN, they sure don’t care about paperwork when it comes to their illegal distribution of drugs, ano?
— Anj + 15,035,772 (@anjpessumal) April 29, 2021
Meanwhile, Defensor’s reasoning about prescriptions was rebuked by a pharmacist and Twitter personality Arshie Larga.
He said that the doctor’s information is necessary, even if the medicine, such as Ivermectin, is for free.
Yung mga doctor nga kapag bumibili ng Antibiotic para sa sarili nila nire-require namin na gumawa/mag-present sila ng reseta at dapat nakasulat yung name, prc ID no. at pirma nila.
Also during medical missions laging nakasulat ang doctor’s info sa reseta kahit free ang mga gamot https://t.co/fApgbh0DtC
— Arshie Larga (@Arshiethromycin) April 30, 2021
On Thursday, April 29, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that Defensor and others violated FDA laws.
The agency never approved Ivermectin for human use. It was only allowed a compassionate special permit and was given to a handful of hospitals.
“Under FDA existing law, the importation, sale, distribution or administration of unregistered drugs or vaccines are prohibited and accordingly punished. Ivermectin is not registered for use by humans because apparently, it is for the parasitic disease of animals,” Guevarra explained during an interview over ANC Headstart.
“In the case of Ivermectin, it is not registered particularly as a drug against COVID-19 and going by the FDA Law on its face. It would appear that the distribution of Ivermectin as a possible treatment for COVID-19 apparently violates the FDA law,” he stressed.
Defensor, along with Marcoleta and Jesus Crispin Remulla grilled ABS-CBN over unfounded allegations resulting in the revocation of its license to operate. They were among the 70 congressmen who voted to reject the franchise renewal application of the Network.
