MANILA — Malacañang said Department of Health (DOH) officials must defend themselves before the Office of the Ombudsman regarding allegations that they misused public funds during an official trip to Switzerland.

The statement came a day after the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) questioned before the Ombudsman the alleged use of taxpayers’ money to purchase a business class ticket for Undersecretary Albert Francis Domingo’s attendance at the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland from May 17 to 23.

“Kung ito po ay naisampa naman po ang reklamong ito sa Office of the Ombudsman, sila na po ang kailangang magdipensa sa sarili nila,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said.

“Kung sila naman ay may mga ebidensiya na papabor sa kanila, iyon ang ipakita nila bilang kanilang depensa,” she added.

Castro said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will not intervene at this stage and will wait for the Ombudsman’s findings before taking any action.

“Siguro po kapag nagkaroon na ng resolution ang Office of the Ombudsman, then that’s it, magsasagawa na po ng aksiyon ang Pangulo,” she said.

Domingo earlier said he is open to any investigation to clarify government rules and procedures, while Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa has yet to issue a comment despite requests.

The issue surfaced months after health sector groups accused Herbosa of maintaining ties with a pharmaceutical company despite possible conflicts of interest, and of allegedly using public funds for a radio program without proper bidding.