President Duterte has found no reason to prosecute Health Secretary Francisco Duque III despite calls to remove and indict him over alleged anomalies in the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

The President defended anew Duque during his public address Monday night, saying task force probe on PhilHealth did not show any proof linking the health secretary to any irregularity.

The embattled health secretary was present during the President's meeting with some Cabinet members on the pandemic response at the Malago clubhouse inside Malacañang Park.

"I have reviewed --- hindi naman ‘yung --- a cursory reading really --- and I have yet to find ‘yung sabi nila na idedemanda si Duque dahil may kasalanan (I have yet to find something that Duque can be indicated due to alleged wrongdoing). I have read the findings and for the life of me I cannot really find a good reason to prosecute an innocent man," Duterte said in his remarks.

"Mine is to not really prosecute just for the sake of being somebody being prosecuted. My job is to see to it that the rule of law --- the rules for or against a person --- are followed," he added.

Duterte maintained that Duque remains a "hardworking government worker."

He said some have called for the removal of Duque but he could not simply do it without basis. Duterte, a former prosecutor, explained that he is trained to take into consideration if there is evidence to charge a person.

"There has been a lot of things I have heard, I have read na --- and even some advice --- na si --- dapat daw si Duque, ikaw sir, ilaglag ko na because hindi maganda sa aking administration. You know, may mga tao na puwedeng ganun. You go for the safe side. And there are a lot of people who do it ‘yang gusto na lang nila na mawalaan na ng problema. Ah basta na lang, “O sige, paalisin mo na lang sabihin mo.” Ako po’y hindi ganun (There has been a lot of things I have heard, Have read and even some advice that Duque, you sir, should be dropped because you're not good to my administration. You know, there are some people who agree to that. You go for the safe side. and there are a lot of people who do it just to make the problem go away. Just say, 'Go ahead, fire him.' I am not like that)," he said.

"Ako’y abugado (I am a lawyer) and I know what is probable cause and prima facie. These are two phrases that are important before you can file a case in court," he added.

Senator Panfilo Lacson earlier raised the possibility that Duque may still be held accountable for the alleged irregularities in the PhilHealth. The senator reportedly claimed the task force probing PhilHealth seemed to have gathered enough evidence to indict Duque.

The task force earlier recommended the filing of administrative and criminal complaints against former PhilHealth president Ricardo Morales and several other high ranking officials over alleged anomalies. The recommendation has been endorsed by the President.

Duque was not included in the initial list of officials who will be charged for the alleged PhilHealth anomalies.