MOST OF US are probably under the impression that Health Secretary Ted Herbosa would soon be fired by President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. amid a growing public clamor calling for his immediate replacement.
Unknown to many, Herbosa wields a “staying power” being a “relative of the powers that be.” His eldest sister Felicidad “Peachy” Herbosa happens to be the wife of former Health Secretary Alberto Romualdez, who served under the Estrada administration. Oh yes, Alberto Romualdez is Herbosa’s brother in law.
Alberto and Babes (the Philippine Ambassador to the United States) are brothers — and yes, Herbosa calls him “bayaw” too.
Interestingly, Herbosa’s brothers-in-law are the cousins of the sitting President whose mother Imelda is considered the clan’s matriarch.
While there’s no law preventing the Romualdez clan from backing up Herbosa’s ambitions, the clan whose name has become a byword synonymous to corruption, should be wary about people dragging the family in dubious transactions.
For one, Herbosa has been at the receiving end of nasty remarks following one blunder after another at the Department of Health (DOH) where he has reportedly been making a fortune — the latest of which involves a P1.8-billion contract for the procurement of mobile primary care units (MPCU).
‘DOH employees accused Herbosa of using “undue influence” and manipulation of technical specifications to favor a specific supplier despite the poor quality of previous deliveries.But not all DOH officials are involved in what looks more like a systemic corruption scheme.’
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
Moving forward, the MCPUs were delivered and shipped to 83 provinces. However, 75 percent turned out to be defective, for which DOH employees finally decided “enough is enough”. Hence, a criminal complaint was filed against the DOH chief before the Office of the Ombudsman.
Aside from Herbosa, the complaint named Undersecretary Glen Matthew Baggao, Head Executive Assistant Brigida Romualdez-Aquino, and Executive Assistant Allan J. Tope as respondents.
Herbosa, et al are facing culpable violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act 3019) and the New Government Procurement Act (RA 12009).
The DOH employees accused Herbosa of using “undue influence” and manipulation of technical specifications to favor a specific supplier despite the poor quality of previous deliveries.
But not all DOH officials are involved in what looks more like a systemic corruption scheme. Former DOH Undersecretary Gregorio Murillo Jr. stood against bid rigging, and was eventually removed by Herbosa after advocating for upgraded safety standards that conflicted with the preferred procurement directives.
The complainants urged the Ombudsman to place the respondents under preventive suspension to prevent interference with the investigation, conduct a forensic examination and preservation of procurement records, including email exchanges and text messages.
MONEY TRAIL
In recent months, corruption allegations have piled up against Herbosa. Some DOH employees have accused him of a conflict of interest, claiming he crossed the line by keeping cozy social ties with Zuellig Pharma even as the company was allegedly an active bidder for DOH projects.
Then there is the money trail. DOH employees asked the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate a P1.29 billion cash transfer to UNICEF for vaccines and essential medicines that they alleged remained unliquidated from February 2024 to July 30, 2024.
They further alleged that while that amount was still unaccounted for, Herbosa approved another UNICEF vaccine purchase worth P524.9 million, a move they say violated Commission on Audit rules and a DOH memorandum barring new fund transfers until earlier ones are liquidated.
On another front, Herbosa is taking heat over claims that P98 million in public funds went to a DZMM program produced by Media Serbisyo Production Corporation, owned by Franco Reyes, the husband of DOH Health Promotion Bureau Director Tina Marasigan.
Herbosa, Marasigan, and Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo are listed as anchors of the show on the radio station owned by Martin.