Herbosa ‘not bypassed’ but ‘needs to be reappointed’

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa and Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go. (FILE PHOTOS)_

MANILA, Philippines — Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa failed to pass the scrutiny of the congressional Commission on Appointments (CA) on Tuesday, as it tackled at his confirmation hearing various issues besetting the country’s health sector.

But according to Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, who presided over the CA deliberations, Herbosa was “not bypassed.”

His confirmation was merely “suspended due to lack of material time.” “We just suspended [Herbosa’s confirmation] hearing.

Many CA members wanted to ask him questions on policy matters but did not have enough time,” Go told reporters after the four-hour confirmation hearing.

Still, Go said: “He [Herbosa] needs to be reappointed because his ad interim appointment will lapse when the Congress takes a break” on Sept. 30.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, CA chair, said plainly that the chief  of the Department of Health (DOH) was “bypassed due to lack of material time.” “But [his appointment] will be taken up again when he get back in November,” Zubiri said in a Viber message.

Go said: “As chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, I support [his appointment] and trust his capabilities. But I also wanted to propound more questions to him.”