It would be a great loss for government if it lets go of Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral, whose head Catholic bishops have demanded for distributing condoms on Valentine’s Day, administration standard bearer Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said Tuesday.
“I’m against that. Secretary Cabral is one of the most unrelenting and transparent secretaries, and if she will decide to continue serving this government, we would be very lucky,” Teodoro said in an interview aired live on radio dzBB.
Teodoro has consistently named Cabral as one of the officials he would retain in the Cabinet if he wins the presidency in the May elections.
The two worked together in the Arroyo Cabinet when Teodoro was defense secretary and Cabral chief of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
She was appointed health secretary last month.
Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles has called for Cabral’s resignation over her condom distribution, which is part of the Department of Health’s campaign to curb the spread of HIV/ADS.
The bishop said the condom distribution promoted immorality.
Cabral has also been criticized for her support of the Reproductive Health bill in Congress, which aims to strengthen government’s family planning and population management program through the use of both artificial and natural means of contraception.
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