Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (File photo)
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has vouched for the integrity of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III even after the latter has earned criticisms due to the supposed deficiencies in handling the PHP67.32 billion worth of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) response funds.
Duterte, in his pre-recorded Talk to the People delivered Friday night and aired Saturday morning, said he has no plan to fire Duque amid calls for the embattled health chief to resign.
“I’m sorry but I said, maski mag-isa na lang ako (even if I am left alone), I will stand for Duque even if it will bring me down,” he said.
Duque is facing backlash after the Commission on Audit (COA) flagged the Department of Health’s (DOH) alleged failure to comply with existing laws and regulations in managing the PHP67.32 billion in Covid-19 response funds.
The COA later issued a clarification that the observed deficiencies in the management of pandemic funds are not conclusive of corruption.
Duterte said he would only fire a government worker who is either involved in corruption or not performing his duty.
Hence, there is no basis to dismiss Duque since the latter is doing his mandate amid the prevailing pandemic, Duterte added.
“Kawawa naman yung mama. Gusto nila (I pity him. They want)… You want me to fire Secretary Duque. Gusto mo paalisin ko (You want me to fire him). Give me a reason bakit ko paalisin (why I should fire him),” he said. “You want to oust him? For what? Ano ba ang nagawa niya na kasamaan (What has he done wrong)?”
‘Great injustice’ to fire Duque
Duterte lamented that Duque is being “flogged” even if the latter “did not hold even a peso.”
“I am not defending the DOH. Trabaho nila iyan (That’s their job) and we are governed by the rules. Hindi ako (Not me), I’m not defending because they are not being accused of anything. I am just sharing my opinion,” he said.
Duterte said it would be a “great injustice,” should he decide to dismiss Duque from service.
He said he could not afford to let people think that Duque is involved in corrupt activities.
“I would like to set the record straight once and for all. I am not prepared to… I would be doing a great injustice. Alam mo kung bakit? Ako ang kumuha (You know why? I appointed him) and he is performing. Pag pinaalis ko ‘yan si Duque, lifetime, sabihin niyan, ‘Alam mo pinaalis iyan dahil ‘nung may corruption sa ano' (If I fire him, lifetime, people would say, ‘He was dismissed because of corruption),’” Duterte said. (PNA)
