The Commission on Elections approved on Monday the request of Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa to transfer at least seven officials of PhilHealth due to "loss of confidence."

"According to a Comelec memorandum dated 16 October, Herbosa, who serves as the chairperson of the PhilHealth board, conformed with exemptions under the Omnibus Election Code, which prohibits the transfer of government personnel during an election period.

The PhilHealth board "lost confidence" in seven members of the executive committee, according to a memorandum signed by Commission on Elections Chairman George Erwin Garcia, because of their "observed incompetence, gross negligence, and ineffective leadership," which "directly and adversely impacted" the insurer.

Herbosa asked for Congress' help in cleansing the PhilHealth organization, which previously faced accusations of corruption and for which he blamed its executive committee for late payments to hospitals.

The Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections on 30 October must not be affected by the transfer of PhilHealth personnel, according to Comelec, and it must not include any promotion or salary increase.