Marcos says Cascolan to look at DOH 'functions,' not health issues

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Wednesday defended the appointment of former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Camilo Cascolan at the Department of Health, saying the retired police general will have administrative functions at the agency.

"It's not health issues that he has to look at, that's why he doesn’t have to be a doctor. He's going to look at the function of the DOH," Marcos told reporters in an ambush interview.

"We talked about rightsizing. We talked about structural changes. 'Yun, we need somebody to examine what has been going on," he added.

More than 100 days into his administration, Marcos has yet to appoint a DOH secretary. The department is currently being headed by OIC Maria Rosario Vergeire.

Cascolan's appointment as DOH undersecretary was met with criticisms, with some calling his latest role in the government as an "insult to" and a "slap in the face [of]" experts who are more qualified for the position.

Defending his appointment, Cascolan, who was PNP chief for two months in late 2020, said he could be of help in the DOH through his expertise on emergency response.

He said while in the PNP, he started COVID-19 protocols in the initial stage "when everybody was in a quandary." He also said he conceptualized the COVID-19 Task Force at the PNP during the early days of the pandemic. 

Opposition lawmaker Senator Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, said Cascolan should be given a chance to bring his expertise to the DOH.

In a press conference, Hontiveros, a member of the Senate Committee on Health, said officials don't have to be doctors and may have different expertise that can be of use to the DOH.

"I have to say, give the new DOH undersecretary a chance at pakiramdam ko na dama niya na kailangan niyang patunayan ang kanyang sarili dahil yun na nga iba yung kanyang expertise," she said.

(I have to say, give the new DOH Undersecretary a chance and I know that he feels that he has to prove himself because he is an expert on a different field.) —with Hana Bordey/KBK, GMA News