DAVAO CITY — Despite repeated calls from various political leaders of the country for President Rodrigo Duterte to fire Health Secretary Francisco Duque, the President continuously vouched for him saying it is not time.
On Monday, Duterte again said he still trusts Duque saying it is not time for the health chief to leave his post especially as the country battles the coronavirus pandemic
In his televised address, Duterte assured Duque that he still has his trust and outmost respect.
On his televised address Duterte bluntly told Duque “Secretary Duque, this is not the time for you to resign. Hindi pa panahon mag-resign. So… I have heard stories about you going to resign. I have full trust in you.”
The President said he believes Duque is untainted adding his main concern is officials being involved graft and corruption.
He told Duque to wait for the outcome of the ongoing probe on Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), whose officials are accused of misdeeds and abuses.
Even is the investigation shows there was negligence on the part of Duque, the President said it is understandable considering the challenges faced by officials in running large organizations.
“Talagang mane-negligent ka kasi hindi mo mahabol minsan eh and sometimes nawala ‘yung papel. So these are the things that sabi ko sa iyo na — the one that really matter to me,” he said.
“What matters is ‘yung corruption. Pero kung hindi ka corrupt, wala ka namang — when you do not have any reason to resign.,” he added.
Concluding its investigation, the Senate Committee of the Whole, recommended the filing of criminal charges against Duque and several other officials in their involvement to the questionable release of billions of funds under PhilHealth’s emergency cash advance measure.
Duque served as PhilHealth’s ex-officio chairman.
Lawmakers also want President Duterte to sack Duque and appoint a new health chief who is tough on corruption.
Senator Panfilo lacson in August said reminded Malacañang of President Rodrigo Duterte’s repeated warning to officials that he would fire them immediately over even a mere “whiff” of corruption.
Duterte’s critics even accused him of maintaining scared cows defying his own vow to fire anyone “even just a whiff of corruption.”
During the Senate and Congressional investigation on PhilHealth, it also pointed out that Duque did not even provide PhilHealth cards to Davao saying he was not sure if Duterte is an ally.
The Department of Justice (DOJ), tasked by the President to investigate allegations of corruption in PhilHealth, is expected to submit its report next weeks.-Newsline.ph
