Abalos: Herbosa not forced to resign

MANILA, Philippines — Cabinet Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos has denied claims that outgoing Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa was forced to step down from his post by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Abalos told reporters in Malacañang on Monday that Herbosa filed his courtesy resignation “voluntarily,” and the President accepted it so he could recuperate well.

President Marcos named veteran orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jose Brittanio “Brix” Pujalte Jr. as the new chief of the Department of Health (DOH), replacing Herbosa who had served for three years.

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READ: Jose Pujalte is Marcos’ new DOH secretary

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In his message to DOH officials, a copy of which was obtained by the Inquirer, Herbosa said he tendered his courtesy resignation “to take care of myself.”

Herbosa, who had been on sick leave since July 6, said he would need three to four months of “extensive rehabilitation” following his recent replacement surgery on both his knees.

“I find it unfair that I will not be able to devote my full time and effort to important matters of DOH,” he added.

In a message, Herbosa thanked Marcos for the “complete trust and confidence he placed in my service at the DOH.”

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It was under Herbosa’s term that the DOH implemented reforms, including the zero-balance billing in government hospitals. He also initiated the establishment of Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (Bucas) centers aimed at decongesting the overcrowded emergency rooms of public hospitals.

It was also under Herbosa, as chair of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), that the state health insurance implemented a 30-percent in 2024 and then a 50-percent increase in 2025 in almost all of the 9,000 medical and procedural case rates it offers.

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Too late

AHW, who has been calling for Herbosa to step down as DOH chief for years, said his resignation “should have come much earlier, as his tenure has failed to bring meaningful improvements to the conditions of health workers and the country’s public healthcare system.”

The group maintained that his resignation should not absolve him from answering complaints and allegations pending before the Office of the Ombudsman.

“These concerns are not merely matters of numbers, documents, or government procedures; they have direct consequences on the lives of Filipino patients,” the AHW said.

“While millions of Filipinos continue to struggle to afford medicines, hospital care, and essential health services, every peso lost, wasted, or mismanaged from the public healthcare system represents an opportunity taken away from patients who urgently need assistance,” it added.

READ: Herbosa says recovery prompted exit, cites DOH gains

Herbosa had been the subject of reported Cabinet reshuffles due to past controversies, but the Palace had always denied he was being booted out.

There were also numerous calls for Herbosa to step down as DOH chief since he assumed the post in June 2023.

He had also been the subject of reported Cabinet reshuffles due to past controversies, but the Palace had always denied he was being booted out.

His name was dragged into the delay in the payment of health emergency allowance of those who served during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Herbosa was also accused of being complicit in the transfer of P60 billion of excess funds of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), where he serves as its chair, to the national treasury.

He was also called to step down by health advocates several times for his posing with executives of a tobacco company.

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Herbosa is currently facing multiple complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman over alleged irregularities involving billions of pesos in public funds. /cb