Group wants Herbosa, 5 DOH execs suspended

MANILA, Philippines — Six officials of the Department of Health, including DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, should be suspended after being charged with corruption, according to the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW).

Filed before the ombudsman by DOH personnel and health care advocates, the complaint stemmed from the allocation of government-procured psychiatric medications worth P44.6 million to the Rotary Club of Quezon City.

“The situation exposes alarming levels of inventory mismanagement, lack of accountability and possible manipulation of resources meant for vulnerable patients. This is totally unacceptable,” the AHW said yesterday.

The Commission on Audit should investigate “how such anomalies continue to go unnoticed,” the group noted.

The DOH is still waiting for the official copy of the complaint, Health Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said.

Vergeire’s exit

Meanwhile, the Health Professional Alliance Against COVID-19 is questioning the removal from the DOH of undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

“We are concerned over her removal in the DOH along with two other career officials who have demonstrated competence and dedication,” the group said in a statement.

Kenneth Ronquillo and Achilles Gerard Bravo were also removed as health undersecretaries.

The group expressed belief that the ouster of the three DOH officials was “politically motivated.”

President Marcos has appointed lawyer Randy Escolango as Vergeire’s replacement.