Photo courtesy of Joan Bondoc/Philippine News Agency (PNA).
Malacañang on Tuesday pushed back against Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong’s remarks questioning the credibility of Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa over the use of guarantee letters in public hospitals.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro raised the issue during a briefing, responding to Magalong’s claim that the health chief was not truthful in saying that Department of Health hospitals do not depend on guarantee letters.
Magalong earlier said in a television interview that the practice of securing guarantee letters from politicians remains in place in Baguio City and other local government units.
Reacting to this, Castro challenged the accusation directly, saying, “Ang sinabi po niya ay sinungaling si Secretary Ted Herbosa sa pagsasalita na hindi naman po nagri-rely ang DOH hospitals, especially with regard to basic accommodations sa guarantee letters. So, bago po siguro magsalita ang isang tao na sinungaling, kailangan muna nilang humarap sa salamin at tanungin nila sa sarili nila, sino ba talaga ang sinungaling?”
Castro stressed that the policy discouraging political involvement in hospital assistance is anchored on reforms included only recently in the national budget.
She noted that provisions meant to curb the use of guarantee letters for political promotion were incorporated in the 2026 General Appropriations Act and have yet to be fully enforced.
“So, hindi pa po nasisimulan, papa-implement pa lang po, sinisiraan na,” Castro added, referring to criticisms raised even before the policy rollout.
Earlier this month, Herbosa reminded the public that patients covered by the zero-balance billing program do not need endorsement or guarantee letters from elected officials to access hospital services.
