Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, along with three other Department of Health (DOH) officials, is facing fresh scrutiny after a new complaint was filed over alleged irregularities in the procurement of mobile primary care facilities (MPCFs) valued at around P1.8 billion.
The nine-page complaint was submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman on Friday by a group identifying themselves as “concerned DOH employees,” who previously accused Herbosa of misconduct in office.
Named in the complaint are Health Undersecretary Glen Matthew Baggao, head of the Health Facilities Enhancement Programs; Brigida Romualdez-Aquino, Herbosa’s executive assistant; and Allan Tope, Executive Assistant VI to the secretary.
The group is urging the Ombudsman to investigate Herbosa and the other officials for potential graft and violations of the New Government Procurement Act and its implementing rules and regulations (IRR), citing “serious irregularities” in the MPCF procurement process.
The complainants are also seeking the preventive suspension of the respondents, arguing that their continued positions in office could compromise the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
Allegations include “conspiracy” and “bid rigging” in the MPCF procurement, which the complaint claims violate the IRR of the New Government Procurement Act. It points to multiple “red flags” concerning MPCFs distributed across 83 provinces, citing an October 2025 DOH memorandum indicating that only 25 percent of the units were functioning properly.
The complaint highlights non-functional units in provinces including Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and Misamis Oriental. Similar issues were reported in Siquijor and Zamboanga del Norte, where units lacked necessary reagents and trained personnel.
According to the complaint, Herbosa “deliberately disregarded the red flags” and allegedly instructed Undersecretary Gregorio Murillo Jr. to adhere to the original terms of reference (TOR). On November 7, 2025, Murillo transmitted the TOR, purchase requests, project procurement management plan, and other documents for the P1.8-billion MPCF project, which were later evaluated by the Health Facility Enhancement Program Management Office (HFEP-MO) and found consistent with previous reports of non-functional units.
The complaint alleges that on November 12, 2025, Tope and Aquino endorsed a “market study” for procuring 150 fully-equipped MPCFs and attempted to modify the TOR to include “tailor-fitted/lock specifications.” The respondents are also accused of postponing the pre-procurement conference and demanding TOR revisions to align with Herbosa’s directives rather than HFEP technical recommendations.
The HFEP-MO had originally designed the TOR to address deficiencies such as adult-only X-ray capabilities, reagent shortages, and inadequate laboratory and X-ray workspace. Proposed revisions aimed to include pediatric X-ray capabilities, reliable reagent supply, and improved workspace layouts.
The complaint further alleges that Herbosa removed Murillo from his post for advocating upgraded facilities that met safety and dignity standards, subsequently appointing Baggao as head of HFEP-MO.
It concludes that the respondents exceeded their authority, interfering with procurement, overriding Murillo’s decisions, and exerting control over the process.
“Instead of respecting the boundaries of his office, respondent Herbosa exploited his position to dominate the procurement process, directing his most trusted aides—Romualdez-Aquino and Tope—to compel procurement employees to alter the terms of reference for the project,” the complaint states.
(Nexus News, Views & Features)
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