Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will not take action against Department of Health (DOH) officials facing allegations over alleged misuse of public funds for an upgraded airfare to Switzerland unless evidence is presented, Malaca±ang said on Tuesday. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro made the statement after a group of health workers asked the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa and Undersecretary Albert Francis Domingo over an alleged 'luxury' flight upgrade, which they said caused financial bleeding to the government.
According to Philippines News Agency, Castro stated that the President sees no basis at present to reprimand the officials involved. "Sa ngayon po ay hindi pa maninita ang Pangulo dahil wala pang ebidensiyang nakikita (At present, the President will not reprimand anyone as no evidence has been seen yet)," she said. 'Siguro po kapag nagkaroon na ng resolution ang Office of the Ombudsman, then that's it, magsasagawa na po ng aksyon ang Pangulo (Perhaps, once the Office of the Ombudsman issues a resolution, then the President will take action)."
Castro emphasized the importance of observing due process, adding that any action would depend on the outcome of the proper legal and administrative proceedings. She expressed confidence that the Ombudsman would handle the complaint in accordance with its mandate, stating that officials concerned would be given the opportunity to respond to the allegations.
'Kung ito po ay naisampa naman po ang reklamong ito sa Office of the Ombudsman, sila na po ang kailangang magdipensa sa sarili nila. At kung sila naman ay may mga ebidensiya na papabor sa kanila, iyon ang ipakita nila bilang kanilang depensa (If the complaint has been filed with the Office of the Ombudsman, they must defend themselves. If they have evidence in their favor, they should present it as their defense),' she added.
The Alliance of Health Workers, in a letter addressed to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, sought an investigation into the matter. The group claimed Herbosa issued a Department Personnel Order on May 11 to upgrade Domingo's travel entitlement from an international round-trip economy airfare to a business-class ticket for his participation in the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland from May 17 to 23.
