The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday once again expressed support to its chief, Secretary Francisco Duque III, saying that it is not "proper" to change leadership at this point when the country is still battling the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Sa isa pong ganitong kalaki na sitwasyon for health, it is really not proper and sa tingin ko hindi po appropriate na magpapalit po tayo ng pamunuan sa gitna ng pandemyang ito ,” said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in an interview over Teleradyo.
“We have always stood by the Secretary. Hindi naman po sya nagkulang sa direction at mga pamumuno sa Kagawaran ng Kalusugan ,” she added.
Vergeire said the DOH’s efforts in combating the health crisis are now starting to “bear fruit.”
“Makikita po natin itong mga nagawa for these months is now bearing fruit. Nakakakita po tayo ng pagluwag ng sistema, nakakakita po tayo ng mga magagandang indikasyon sa ating response to COVID-19 months are now bearing fruit. We are seeing good indications in our response to COVID-19],” she said.
Instead of changing the leadership, Vergeire asked the public to just support the various initiatives of the government against COVID-19.
“Bukas naman po ang tanggapan ng Kagawaran sa lahat ng rekomendasyon. Atin nalang pong suportahan ang ating mga namumuno sa ngayon at tingnan pa po natin kung saan pa tayo pwede maka-improve ng ating sitwasyon ,”she said.
In a televised briefing on Monday, President Duterte showed his support to Duque by saying that “this is not the time for you to resign.”
Duque is being criticized for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, the Senate recommended the filing of criminal charges against him and several other officials of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) over the alleged irregularities at the state-health insurer. Duque vowed to clear his name.