Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire on Thursday disclosed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. did not offer her the post of Department of Health Secretary.

"No, honestly. It was not offered. I was asked to be an OIC," she said, adding she has reservations about being offered the title secretary and possibly being co-terminus with the appointing power.

She explained that most career officials like her — in government service for three decades already — would like to serve until the time comes to retire.

"If we have a term, just like this (of DoH chief), it is just only six years. And by the time I finish the six years, I still have years left to serve," Vergeire added.

"And I want to still serve, of course, until I retire. That is one of the reservations," she explained.

Earlier, Iloilo Rep. and former health secretary Janette Garin disclosed that the post of DoH secretary had been offered to numerous doctors, but that all of them declined.

Many of those who declined did not want to be involved in government anomalies like the ones that have hounded the DoH over its procurement of Covid-19 equipment and supplies, Garin added,
Last week, Marcos revealed he would only appoint a DoH secretary once the country's Covid-19 pandemic situation has normalized.

Meanwhile, Vergeire defended former Philippine National Police chief Camilo Cascolan from criticisms after he was appointed DoH undersecretary.

"I think he is very qualified based on the credentials he submitted," she said in a separate interview. Cascolan's exact duties are still being discussed, Vergeire revealed.

"We are currently looking at areas of operations, or admin and finance, where his credentials can be of use to the department," she stressed.

On Sunday, the health department confirmed Cascolan's appointment days after the latter's appointment letter surfaced on the Internet.