Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on Thursday refuted reports claiming he failed to attend a House committee hearing on vape and nicotine use, saying he was never invited to the inquiry.
In a Facebook post, Herbosa said the invitation from the House of Representatives was sent to a specific resource person responsible for the department’s health promotion campaigns, not to him.
“You cannot be absent to a hearing you have NOT been invited to attend,” he said.
Herbosa added that the Department of Health (DOH) was represented at the hearing by Health Promotion Bureau chief Tina Marasigan.
A report claimed that Marasigan, a former television personality, was unable to answer questions raised during the hearing of the House Committee on Ways and Means.
The Health Secretary disputed the claim, saying he reviewed the video of the proceedings and that all questions were addressed.
“False again! I reviewed the video and all questions were answered and the DOH position was clearly stated—that vaping is NOT ‘less harmful’ than tobacco smoking,” Herbosa wrote.
The DOH has consistently maintained that vaping poses serious health risks.
In 2024, the Philippines recorded its first vape-related death involving a 22-year-old man who had reportedly been using e-cigarettes for two years before suffering a heart attack linked to heavy vape use.
