Herbosa dismisses exit rumors

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa has dismissed rumors he is leaving the Cabinet after several complaints had been filed against him.

“There is no truth to that. I think USec. Claire [Castro] already said that there is no revamp of the Cabinet,” Herbosa said in a televised briefing on Wednesday.

“But we, in the Cabinet, all serve at the pleasure of the President. So if the President wants to replace me, that is [his] prerogative,” he said.

The Health chief maintained that he would continue to pursue his mandate, especially the zero-balance billing program and expanding the Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service centers.

In July 2025, Herbosa and five other Department of Health (DoH) officials were charged with multiple corruption cases before the Office of the Ombudsman over P44.6-million worth of psychiatric drugs.

The cases stemmed from the questionable and disproportionate allocation of government-procured mental health medications to the Rotary Club of Quezon City.

He is also facing a complaint over the questionable approval of a P1.29-billion cash advance for vaccines and essential medicines, which reportedly remains unliquidated.

Herbosa is also currently facing graft charges in connection with the P98-million radio show “PINASigla.”

In December last year, the Commission on Audit flagged the DoH for expired and nearly expired drugs and medicines worth P34.8 million, along with other inventory items totaling P99.4 million.