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There is a sobering lesson to be learned from this. We, the stewards of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the Department of Health (DOH) – Civil Service Commission (CSC) Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) 2010-01, have failed in protecting our tobacco control policies. We have allowed the intrusion of an industry whose very business is built on addiction, disease, and death—an industry we committed, through international treaty, to keep away from public policy.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has long been a strong ally in tobacco control, with clear internal policies rejecting tobacco industry donations. The DOH and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have also upheld the principles of FCTC Article 5.3 across several administrations. That all three institutions are now complicit in accepting a tobacco industry donation is deeply tragic. Secretary Gatchalian disregarded DSWD’s own rules and instead relied on a DOJ opinion that dangerously claimed that even if a public officer cannot accept tobacco donations, the government agency can. This false legal justification has now opened the door wide to exposing public officers to tobacco donations and unnecessary interactions, and the press photo of the public officers with the head honcho of the world’s largest tobacco transnational is a testament to this problematic legal manipulation that undermines laws that promote integrity and saves lives.
The acceptance of four mobile clinics from Philip Morris International (PMI) — received at the Palace, with the PMI global CEO present, and facilitated by the Office of the First Lady — has set a dangerous precedent. It normalizes the presence of the tobacco industry in the heart of public service. It signals that the government is willing to compromise public health for the optics of generosity.
Let us not forget: tobacco kills half its users. Nicotine is a highly addictive drug, with no purpose other than to sustain dependence. Whether natural or synthetic, its continued promotion serves only to grow addiction, especially among the young.
By accepting this donation and aligning itself with Philip Morris International, the Philippine government is not just breaching a policy — it is violating a human right. The right to health, protected under international law, is not optional. PMI is recognized globally as one of the world’s worst human rights violators.
The value of four trucks is negligible compared to the billions we spend each year treating tobacco-related illness. There is also a far greater loss: the erosion of public trust, the betrayal of treaty obligations, and the collapse of institutional integrity.
The Philippines was once a model for FCTC Article 5.3 implementation, celebrated for its progressive, principled stance in keeping the tobacco industry out of government. This photo of the government with PMI ripped that apart in one fell swoop.
We failed to stop this. But we will not be silent. And we will not allow this to stand.
We demand the following immediate actions:
- The Department of Health must issue a clear and unequivocal public condemnation of the tobacco industry—exposing its long-standing interference tactics and rejecting its so-called corporate social responsibility efforts, which are widely recognized as strategies to gain influence and undermine public health policy.
- The Department of Health, as the government’s designated focal point for compliance with the FCTC, must lead and direct all relevant agencies to reaffirm full adherence to FCTC Article 5.3. This begins with the immediate public disclosure of all records related to the PMI donation—including internal communications, documentation, meeting minutes, and any materials exchanged before, during, and after the event.
- The entire Philippine government must make a clear and binding undertaking that this breach will not happen again. A whole-of-government commitment must be adopted to prohibit any future engagement with the tobacco industry—no donations, no partnerships, no photo ops. All government institutions must establish and enforce clear internal protocols to ensure consistent, transparent, and uncompromising compliance with FCTC Article 5.3 at every level.
This is not a simple misstep. It is an act of institutional alignment with an industry built on harm. We must urgently reaffirm our commitment to protect the right to health. The tobacco industry must be recognized—again and without compromise—as a major threat to this human right and to the future of our people.
If Philip Morris International truly wants to clear its conscience, it must stop using public donations to whitewash its legacy. No act of corporate charity can outweigh the lives lost to your products. You do not belong in public health. Step away—because the right to health is not a marketing tool. The right to health is not yours to co-opt.
Contact persons:
Mariz Amante Wee
Communications Officer, HealthJustice
+63998-885-1080 / +974-669-86655
Anelle Cortez
Project Coordinator, HealthJustice
+639178139696
