Health advocates and health workers on Wednesday asked the Ombudsman to dismiss Health Secretary Jose "Brix" Pujalte Jr. over alleged whimsical suspension of procurement of tuberculosis drugs and other tuberculosis-related commodities. “Respondent Pujalte, Jr. attempted to cloak his directive in the language of 'due diligence,' scheduling a mandatory briefing for July 30, 2026. Thus, Respondent Pujalte, Jr. kept the procurement freeze strictly enforced indefinitely,” the letter read. “According to whistleblowers, Respondent Pujalte, Jr. is allegedly deliberately stalling the public bidding timeline to buy time for an unnamed favored supplier,” the letter aded. As such, and indefinite procurement suspension without valid legal grounds “is an illegal sabotage of open competitive bidding.”