WVMC Chief transferred to Zamboanga after refusing to cooperate in alleged corruption
By Jed Queenny Cruz
Acclaimed Chief of Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC), Dr. Joseph Dean Nicolo, is reassigned to Labuan General Hospital in Zamboanga City despite his exceptional track record for allegedly refusing to be part of a corruption scheme of a public official.
Dr. Joseph is a well recognized chief of the hospital and known for performing the best surgeries in the City. Hospital employees believe that moving him is politically motivated, aimed at silencing him and his stand against corruption.
According to information gathered by Bombo Radyo Iloilo, one public official is persistent in making sure Nicolo is transferred someplace far from Iloilo for not allowing a certain public official collect “commission” from the contractor of a ₱350-million Cancer Center Building Project and a ₱450-million Heart and Lung Building Project.
However, the motion to be reassigned came from the Department of Health (DOH) issuing a Department Personnel Order No. 2025-6173 signed by Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, dated August 29, 2025.
There have also been statements that says the main cause of his reassignment is due to alleged involvement in political influence, along with pending administrative and criminal cases, audit findings, and internal management issues under his leadership at the WVMC.
The alleged pending cases with the Ombudsman and Civil Service Committee includes the following:
OMB-V-C-June 25-0912 – Violation of the Omnibus Election Code
OMB V-A-June 25-0256 – Misconduct, Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service, and Gross Negligence
OMB-V-C-Feb 24-0043 – Violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (filed by Mrs. Vilma Getuya)
OMB-V-A-Feb-0069 – Gross Neglect of Duty (also filed by Mrs. Vilma Getuya)
CSC Case Nos. N0620025523 & ND-0006-2024-09 – Irregular appointment of an employee as Financial and Management Officer
Issues of public officials asking for commission from contractors of government projects are not new. But these claims are yet to be verified. In the meantime, Dr. Nicolo has yet to give a statement regarding his open cases with the Ombudsman and the Civil Service Commission.
