President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has appointed orthopedic surgeon and hospital administrator Dr. Jose Brittanio Pujalte Jr. as the new Secretary of Health, replacing Teodoro Herbosa, who resigned due to health reasons, Malacañang announced Monday.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Pujalte brings more than three decades of experience in the public health and medical sectors, having entered government service in 1991 through a three-year residency at the Philippine Orthopedic Center.
He was appointed Medical Center Chief of the Philippine Orthopedic Center in 2014.
Pujalte earned his medical degree from the University of the Philippines College of Medicine and a master’s degree in hospital administration from the Ateneo Graduate School of Business.
Castro said Pujalte also attained Career Executive Service eligibility in 2028, complementing his experience in medicine and public administration.
He is also a professor at the University of the Philippines Manila, FEU-Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation, and San Beda College of Medicine.
“Sa kaniyang pagpasok sa DOH, inaasahang pangungunahan ni Dr. Pujalte Jr. ang ahensiya sa pagpapatuloy ng mga hakbang ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. upang higit na mapatatag ang healthcare system sa bansa (Upon assuming his role at the DOH, Dr. Pujalte Jr. is expected to lead the agency in continuing President Marcos Jr.’s initiatives to further strengthen the country’s healthcare system),” Castro said.
She added that Pujalte is expected to further promote quality health services and advance good health for all Filipinos.
Meanwhile, Castro confirmed the appointment of former Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman as chairperson and chief executive officer of the state-owned Al-Amanah Islamic Investment Bank of the Philippines.
Pangandaman previously served as secretary of the Department of Budget and Management and assistant governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
“Wala naman po sigurong masama kung i-appoint po niya ang isang tao na sa tingin niya ay makakapagtrabaho nang maayos (There is nothing wrong with him appointing someone whom he believes can do the job well),” Castro said, referring to Marcos’ decision to bring Pangandaman back into government.
Pangandaman resigned from the DBM in 2025, alongside then Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, out of delicadeza to allow the government to freely investigate their respective offices after they were linked to alleged flood-control anomalies.
Castro said Pangandaman’s appointment does not exempt her from any investigation, adding that the probe into the flood control controversy would continue regardless of who may be involved.
“Bukas pa rin po ang pag-iimbestiga. Kung mayroon mang kinalaman ang sinuman ay patuloy lang ang pag-iimbestiga (The investigation remains ongoing. If anyone is implicated, the investigation will continue),” she said.
Castro also said Pangandaman is not currently facing any case.
“Sa ngayon po ay wala tayong nakikitang anumang kaso na kinakaharap ni dating Secretary Amenah Pangandaman. Kung mayroon po silang maikakaso at mayroon po silang ebidensiya – sila po ay malaya na magsampa ng kaso (As of now, we do not see any case being faced by former Secretary Amenah Pangandaman. If they have grounds to file a case and possess the evidence, they are free to do so),” she said.
Asked whether Pangandaman was under investigation, Castro said the President was not the one handling the probe.
“Hindi po ang Pangulo ang mag-iimbestiga, iyan po ay ibinigay sa ICI (Independent Commission for Infrastructure), ngayon po ay sa Ombudsman, pati ang DOJ (Department of Justice). Malaya po ang mga investigating bodies na imbestigahan ang sinumang maaaring sangkot [It is not the President who will conduct the investigation; that task was assigned to the ICI, and now to the Ombudsman, as well as the DOJ. The investigating bodies are free to investigate anyone who might be involved],” she added.