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Duterte still trusts Duque; DOH head must reply to allegations on vaccine procurement -- Roque

Philippines | National

Duterte still trusts Duque; DOH head must reply to allegations on vaccine procurement -- Roque

By Genalyn Kabiling

President Duterte is not about to let go of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III for now despite calls for his replacement over the alleged delay in the government's acquisition of coronavirus vaccines.

According to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, the President continues to trust the country's health secretary.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque
(OPS / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

"All members of the Cabinet serve at the pleasure of the President. Sa ngayon, patuloy pa rin ang pagtitiwala ni Presidente kay Secretary Duque (At present, the president still trust Secretary Duque),"he said.

"Ang sabi lang niya ay sagutin ang mga paratang ni (Foreign Affairs) Secretary (Teodoro) Locsin (Jr.) (What the President said is he should answer the allegations made by Secretary Locsin)," he added.

Roque made the latest remarks after Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao called on the President to replace Duque over alleged failure to secure the country's supply of COVID vaccines from Pfizer by early next year. Pacquiao, in a television interview Monday morning, said the country could have secured vaccines by January from the US company but lamented the alleged blunder made by Duque.

Locsin earlier claimed that someone "dropped the ball" in the government's negotiations with Pfizer for vaccine supply. Senator Panfilo Lacson later identified Duque who supposedly failed to submit a crucial document that could have pushed forward the vaccine purchase.

Duque has denied he committed negligence in pursuing the government's negotiations for early vaccine supply. He explained the proposed deal merely underwent legal scrutiny to ensure the government would not enter into any onerous agreement.

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