. NEWS ROUNDUP .

'Dismantle multinationals' monopoly of local drug industry'

THE Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD) yesterday called on President Arroyo to show her sincerity in making cheaper medicines available to the people by getting government to dismantle the multinational cartel's monopoly of the local pharmaceutical industry.

Dr. Gene Nisperos, HEAD secretary general, said in a statement that it is important for government go beyond ensuring the swift passage of the Cheaper Medicines Bill to the implementation of genuine reforms in the pharmaceutical industry.

"We call for the development of a self-reliant national drug industry and the implementation of a National Drug Policy that is linked with the entire health care delivery system. This should begin with strong regulation, including but not limited to immediate drug price regulation or control," Nisperos said.

President Arroyo had ordered the Department of Health last April 11 to withdraw the "generics only" provision in the proposed Cheaper Medicines Bill just to get it passed before Congress adjourns in June.

"If Mrs. Arroyo is sincere in making medicines truly affordable, she should not just wait for the bill to be passed. Otherwise, her announcement will just be another desperate attempt to win brownie points in the midst of the various crises currently rocking her administration," Nisperos said. - Gerard M. Naval

Green Cross owners seek protection from harassment suits

THE family of Anthony Co, owners of Green Cross Inc., has appealed to the government to protect them from harassment suits filed against them by their former president, Gonzalo Co.

Anthony Co and his family say the family of Gonzalo Co, known in business circles as Co it, has instigated suits against them in different courts to force them to accede to their baseless demands of giving them more money for the shares of stock that Gonzalo sold between 1971 and 1986.

Gonzalo has sued his brothers, sisters, nieces and nephew for estafa. Gonzalo claims that half of the shares of Green Cross upon its incorporation in 1971, which shares were registered in the names of his siblings and mother, supposedly belonged to him and should therefore be returned to him under the principle of implied trust.

However, a DOJ resolution made it clear that Gonzalo no longer owned any shares in Green Cross after he executed a deed of absolute sale in 1986 selling the last of those shares. The DOJ ruled that there was no coercion or force involved in the sale.

Gonzalo alleged that Anthony and his family should also be charged for money laundering because they supposedly transferred funds from Green Cross into another corporation which they owned.

According to the family, none of the elements of money laundering has been established. "How can we be investigated for money laundering for transferring funds from one legitimate corporation to another legitimate corporation, assuming we did make any transfer of funds, which itself has not been established?"

Banana vendor, cop shot in Pasig

BANANA vendor Joven Konsensiño, 25, was shot dead by unidentified persons believed to be self-styled vigilantes in Pasig City early Monday morning.

Senior Supt. Francisco Uyami Jr., city police chief, said Konsensiño, who had been released from prison only two weeks earlier after serving time for illegal possession of deadly weapon, was found lifeless at the corner of Agustin and Caruncho streets by bystanders with a placard near his body saying: "Huwag tularan, snatcher ito... Ang gumaya, ganito rin ang mangyayari."

Konsensiño's grandmother Isabelita Bautista said her grandson had been receiving death threats and was carrying a bladed weapon for his own protection before he was arrested and jailed.

In the same city, SPO2 Ruben Fedelino was shot and seriously injured by a group of teenagers in front of his house yesterday morning.

Fedelino, who fired back at least 10 shots at his assailants, told investigators he can identify those who shot him, whom he described as 17 to 19 years old.