THE defense and security sectors yesterday welcomed appointment of Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro as defense secretary, while the medical community and other groups involved in health care welcomed Dr. Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa as chief of the Department of Health (DOH).
“As a former holder of the defense portfolio, Secretary Teodoro already carries with him a wealth of experience that will greatly assist in our march towards total victory against communist terrorism,” said National Security Adviser Eduardo Año.
The Armed Forces expressed “all-out support” to Teodoro.
“We believe that his decisive leadership, professional competence, and wealth of experience, highlighted by his previous assignment as the defense chief from 2007 to 2009, will help build upon our gains in the defense and security of the country,” said Armed Forces spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar.
Their appointments of Teodoro and Herbosa were announced by Malacañang late Monday.
The two took their oath yesterday in Malacañang before President Marcos Jr who, according to the Presidential Communications Office, expressed confidence the two will be able to lead their departments well, and ensure support for his administration’s pursuit of health and security for Filipinos.
Marcos met with the latest appointees in Malacañang on Monday with the respective officers-in-charge of defense and health departments – Defense Undersecretary Carlito Galvez Jr. and Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, before the appointments were announced.
Teodoro and Herbosa are “balik-department” officials. Teodoro first served as defense secretary under the Arroyo administration, from August 2007 to November 2009 when he resigned to run for president. Herbosa served as health undersecretary from 2010 to 2015.
Año said Teodoro’s experience will also help “in protecting our maritime entitlements and defending our territorial integrity in the face tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).”
Año, a former Armed Forces chief, chairs the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea which is leading efforts to protect the country’s interest in the disputed area which is being claimed by China.
Año thanked Galvez “for efficiently taking care” of the DND and wished him good luck on his “new assignment.” Año did not say where Galvez will be assigned next.
Galvez expressed gratitude to Marcos “for entrusting me to lead the department over the last few months.”
A source said Malacañang is considering Galvez’ return to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity which is currently headed by retired Army general Isidro Purisima in acting capacity.
‘COMPETENT’
Medical societies described Herbosa as competent.
Dr. Rontgene Solante, head of the Philippine College of Physicians, said, “A public health expert, emergency medicine, and professor… he has a lot of competency that we are looking for as a leader of the health department,” said Solante.
Dr. Jose Rene de Grano, president of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc., said his group had long pushed for Herbosa’s appointment as DOH chief.
“We are ready to support him in his programs to improve healthcare delivery system in the country,” De Grano also said.
The Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) said Herbosa’s appointment will lead to more innovations in the country’s healthcare system.
“Secretary Herbosa’s notable experience in the implementation of public-private partnerships will be vital as the administration calls for more investments in health and biopharmaceutical innovation to stem the tide of current and emerging health threats,” said PHAP.
But the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) said Herbosa is “anti-people,” particularly during his previous stint as health undersecretary under the late President Benigno Aquino III.
“Herbosa’s appointment is a big insult to health workers and indigent patients, who rely on free and quality health services in public hospitals and other health facilities,” said the AHW.
“Privatization of public hospitals and other public health services will result in higher income generation by collecting higher fees from the patients while health workers will be subjected to more inhumane working conditions,” it added.
The group took note of Herbosa’s stint as an adviser of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases under the Duterte administration.
“We do not want a DOH secretary, who is an ardent red-tagger of health workers, who are only promoting and struggling for their much-deserved COVID-19 benefits, protection, and welfare, especially during the surge of pandemic,” AHW said without elaborating.
Senators praised both appointments.
“Secretary Teodoro is a tried and tested public servant, and we trust that he will lead the Department of National Defense most capably, particularly amidst this atmosphere of brewing tensions in our waters,” said Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Zubiri called Herbosa an “experienced public health expert.”
Sen. JV Ejercito said Teodoro should prioritize the upgrade of the military’s equipment.
“For us to stand up to China’s bullying and protect our territorial integrity, we need a respectable armed forces that is well-equipped and adequately funded,” he said.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said, “Very, very wise and perfect choice. He is well loved by the AFP and the DND.”
Sen. Francis Joseph Escudero said, “I know them both personally and have worked with them in the past. Their competence, integrity, and honesty is beyond question based on my experience working with them.”
Sen. Christopher Go, chair of the Senate health committee, said Herbosa’s various stints in public health management, including his being a COVID-19 task force adviser in the previous administration, will be useful as he takes the helm of the DOH.
As vice chair of the Senate defense committee, Go said the appointment of Teodoro as defense chief is also a welcome development “given his previous experience.”
Former senator Panfilo Lacson said Teodoro is also a good fit.
“Congratulations and God speed to SND Gilbert C. Teodoro. A good friend since he was reviewing for the bar exams which he topped in 1989 as we had correctly predicted, he became the first chairman of the PNP Foundation Inc. which I currently chair. Definitely a wise choice,” Lacson said.
PEACE TALKS
Rep. France Castro (PL, ACT) urged Teodoro to call for the resumption of the peace negotiations between the Government and the communist National Democratic Front of the Philippines “so that the Armed Forces could focus on foreign aggressors.”
Castro, a member of the left-leaning Makabayan bloc, said it would be a “novel and a good move” if Teodoro would call for the resumption of the peace talks.
She also asked the defense department to concentrate more on external aggression as tension in the West Philippine Sea and the Taiwan Strait continue to escalate due to Chinese actions.
Speaker Martin Romualdez said Teodoro and Herbosa are “welcome additions to the President’s immediate official family.”
“Their wealth of experience and knowledge in defense and health strengthen the Marcos Cabinet,” he said. “Their appointments also mean that the President is bent on finding the best and the brightest to join him in serving our people.”
Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said Teodoro, a former congressman, “carries with him a resolutely civilian — and therefore broader — perspective on the country’s defense situation.”
“As a middle-power in global affairs, our national defense is necessarily more complex than simply military firepower. Gibo is a topnotch lawyer and believes above all in the law. Gibo is also a deep thinker in matters of national security,” he said.
Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin, who served as health secretary under the Aquino administration, welcomed Herbosa’s appointment, saying what the DOH needs now “is a manager that can steward the fast delivery of services to our people.”
“This, coupled with timely rebuttal of infodemics/ fake medical news can empower the Filipino people and help achieve what is best for all of us: a country delivering for its people,” said the lawmaker, a vice chair of the House Committee on Health. — With Gerard Naval, Ashzel Hachero and Wendell Vigilia
