Malacañang clarified Wednesday that Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa is not suspended despite reports suggesting otherwise.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said neither the Office of the President nor the Office of the Executive Secretary issued any suspension order against Herbosa.
The clarification came after allegations surfaced linking Herbosa and several Department of Health officials to abuse of authority and corruption.
Alongside Herbosa, Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Albert Domingo, Bureau of International Health Corporation officer-in-charge Joel Buenaventura, and Health Promotion Bureau director Ma. Kristina Marasigan were named in the complaint.
The case accused the group of weaponizing transfers and reassignments within the agency to punish employees who had fallen out of favor.
“While a temporary transfer or assignment of personnel is permissible even without the employee’s prior consent, it cannot be done when the transfer is a preliminary step toward his removal, or a scheme to lure him away from his permanent position, or when it is designed to indirectly terminate his service, or force his resignation,” the complaint read.
The complainants argued that such practices amount to corruption by undermining job security protected under the Civil Service law.
“This is pure abuse of power; so potent that it amounts to corruption,” the complaint continued.
Despite the controversy, the Department of Health has not issued an official statement regarding the status of its secretary.
Reports earlier claimed Herbosa was under preventive suspension and could be replaced amid growing controversies within the agency.
The Ombudsman has yet to announce whether the complaint will proceed to formal investigation or administrative action.
