MANILA — Malacañang on Thursday said it is now up to the Office of the Ombudsman to determine whether Health Secretary Jose “Brix” Pujalte Jr. should be placed under preventive suspension following the filing of a complaint against him.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the complaint has already been referred to the Office of the Ombudsman, placing the matter under the constitutional body’s jurisdiction.

“Nasa hurisdiksiyon na rin po ng Ombudsman kung siya ay kinakailangan na magpataw ng preventive suspension para sa mas malinis na pag-iimbestiga sa naturang reklamo (It is now within the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction to determine whether to impose a preventive suspension to ensure a cleaner investigation into the complaint in question),” Castro said during a press briefing.

Castro made the statement when asked whether President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. believes there is a need to place Pujalte under preventive suspension.

She also said she has not received any information indicating that the President and the Health secretary have discussed the complaint.

The complaint against Pujalte was previously endorsed by the Presidential Complaints Center to the Office of the Ombudsman. It reportedly includes allegations of the supposed deliberate delay in the procurement of anti-tuberculosis commodities.

The complaint was filed a week after Pujalte denied allegations linking him to gambling in casinos in Parañaque City./PNA