Posing a photo with tobacco executives does not mean Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa has violated any law, Malacañang said.
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said there is nothing illegal with Herbosa having photographed with tobacco executives in a turnover ceremony in Malacañang.
As long as the DOH, which Herbosa heads, does not accept any donation coming from a tobacco company, there is no violation on that, Castro noted.
"Kung hindi po naman tumanggap ang DOH ng anumang donasyon mula sa tobacco company ay wala po tayong nakikitang anumang violation sa sinasabi nating batas or rule (If the DOH did not accept any donation from the tobacco company, we do not see any violation of the law or rule)," Castro said in a Palace briefing on Wednesday, March 26.
"At kung siya naman po ay nakapag-photo ops, hindi naman po ibig sabihin na siya ay nagba-violate na ng anumang batas (And if he joined in the photo ops, that does not mean he violated any law)," Castro added.
The Palace official also said that the photo alone does not destroy the image of the DOH, adding that Herbosa was just being a gentleman.
"At kahit naman po siguro ang ibang tao, kung ikaw ay public servant at ikaw ay na-request-an kung puwedeng magpa-picture sa iyo – dapat maging gentleman ka. Hindi naman ibig sabihin na ikaw ay nagpapa-photo ops ay ikasisira na po ng imahe ng DOH at ito ay makakasira din sa patakaran ng pamahalaan (Even if it was other people, if you are a public servant and you were asked for a picture, you have to be a gentleman. Joining in the photo ops does not cause any harm to the DOH or to the government)," Castro said.
Herbosa was under fire for posing a photo with tobacco executives during the turnover of four mobile laboratory clinics and water station to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on March 20 in Malacañan Palace. He was also criticized for applauding while posing for the photo.
Meanwhile, Castro underscored that as long as the government is not violating any law, it will continue to accept donations that bring help to any program of the government from private firms.
She assured the public that government agencies will continue to adhere to laws in terms of non-promotion of products such as tobacco.