Rowegie Abanto

The Department of Health office in Manila. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

The Department of Health (DOH) office in Manila. April 21, 2014. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News.

Article (news)

The Department of Health office

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178159276465820140421-health-JC-A01A8901.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Department of Health office in Manila. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa and other Department of Health (DOH) officials are facing another complaint for technical malversation and graft before the Office of the Ombudsman over the alleged diversion of P145.9 million in health funds to finance a voluntary contribution to the World Health Organization (WHO).</p><p>The complaint was filed on Tuesday by an anonymous group identifying itself as “Concerned Department of Health Personnel.”</p><p>It alleged that Herbosa, Health Undersecretary Albert Francis Domingo, Health Promotion Bureau Director Maria Kristina Marasigan, and Disease Prevention and Control Bureau Director Anna Garfin diverted funds from disease prevention and health promotion budgets to support the “Philippine Pacific Health Initiative” (PHILPAC), a voluntary contribution to the WHO.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2026/6/15/philhealth-clarifies-24-hour-confinement-rule-says-patient-would-have-gotten-p73k-for-p2m-surgery-0904">PhilHealth clarifies 24-hour confinement rule, says patient would have gotten P73k for P2M surgery</a></div><p>According to the complaint, Herbosa issued a memorandum dated Oct. 29, 2025, directing officials to reallocate the funds to meet the international commitment.</p><p>It argued that the funds were appropriated by Congress for domestic health services so their alleged diversion to a Western Pacific regional initiative is a violation of law.</p><p>The complaint also said the funds could not be considered “savings” since the transfer was made mid-year while the 2025 fiscal year was still ongoing.</p><p>“There is absolutely no showing—nor is it logically possible in October—that the entire country&#x27;s disease prevention and health promotion mandates for the year 2025 had already been fully completed, abandoned, or discontinued,” the complaint read.</p><p>“Therefore, these funds were not genuine savings. They were active operational funds deliberately intercepted midstream,” it added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;TO PURCHASE INTERNATIONAL PRESTIGE&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The complainants linked the timing of the remittance to Herbosa’s election as president of the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva in May 2025.</p><p>“What do Filipinos gain from his election as President of the 78th World Health Assembly? Nothing… The government receives purely symbolic, diplomatic ‘prestige’ for contributing to regional resilience. Prestige, however, does not cure illnesses. Respondent Herbosa&#x27;s fame will not save lives of many Filipinos who do not have access to health care,” it read.</p><p>Complainants noted that since the WHO project covers 37 countries and areas in the Western Pacific, Filipino taxpayer money was distributed across the region although local hospitals remained underfunded.</p><p>“Local funds intended for sick, impoverished Filipinos were diverted mid-year to purchase international prestige for a Department Secretary’s resume,” it said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/10/herbosa-claims-doh-mafia-behind-complaints-vs-him-1715">RELATED: Herbosa claims ‘DOH mafia’ behind complaints vs. him</a></div><p>The group urged the Ombudsman to issue a preventive suspension against the respondents.</p><p>The same group earlier filed complaints against Herbosa over the alleged wastage of more than P1.4 billion worth of medicines.</p><p>Herbosa previously described the complainants as a “DOH mafia” and challenged them to reveal their identities if they truly had basis for their accusations.</p><p>ABS-CBN News has reached out to Herbosa for comment on the new complaint. </p><p>Domingo said in a message that he looks forward to the Ombudsman’s action on the matter.</p><p>“Thank you for the opportunity to respond in a proper legal forum. We respect the work of the Ombudsman and await its next step,” Domingo told ABS-CBN News.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F7um3Zjo_KM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa and other health officials are facing another complaint for technical malversation and graft before the Ombudsman over the alleged diversion of P145.9 million in health funds to finance a voluntary contribution to the WHO.</p>

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa and other health officials are facing another complaint for technical malversation and graft before the Ombudsman over the alleged diversion of P145.9 million in health funds to finance a voluntary contribution to the WHO.

Herbosa, other DOH officials face fresh raps over alleged P145.9-M health care fund diversion

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Herbosa, other DOH officials face fresh raps over alleged P145.9-M health care fund diversion

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 16, 2026 03:17 PM PHT

Read More:

Ombudsman

DOH

Teodoro Herbosa

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