AMID a long list of allegations, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa has submitted his courtesy resignation, ending months of calls for his termination over alleged corruption.
In a letter submitted to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Herbosa cited the need for him to take care of himself. Herbosa earlier went on leave to undergo a knee replacement surgery. Marcos Jr. has accepted Herbosa’s resignation.
“Today, I tendered my courtesy resignation as SOH (Secretary of Health) to PBBM. My operation has made me realize that I also need to take care of myself,” said Herbosa.
After the surgery over the weekend, Herbosa said that he will be on extensive rehabilitation for three to four months.
During the Palace press briefing, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro was asked whether the President’s supposed acceptance of resignation has anything to do with the long list of graft complaints filed against the former DOH Secretary.
In response, Castro said there was no mention of the graft complaints filed against Herbosa before the Office of the Ombudsman.
“Ang isinaalang-alang po ng Pangulo ay ang kanyang kalusugan,” she said.
Immediately after Herbosa’s resignation, Marcos appointed Jose Pujalte Jr. as the new Health secretary.
Pujalte joined the DOH in 1991 and completed his orthopedic residency at the Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC) in 1994. Since 2014, he has served as Medical Center Chief II of the Philippine Orthopedic Center.
Pujalte graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Medicine and earned a Master’s Degree in Hospital Administration from the Ateneo Graduate School of Business.
According to Castro, Pujalte also acquired a Career Executive Service Eligible (CESE) in 2008.