If Health Secretary Francisco Duque III files his resignation, which many are now calling for because of the latest Commission on Audit (COA) report, President Duterte will outrightly reject it, coming to the defense once more of the embattled health chief.
“Alam ko na gusto mo nang mag-resign pero alam mo rin na tatanggihan kita (I know that you want to resign, but you also know that I will reject it). Noon (Before), you have attempted to resign twice. I expect you to say something to me,” he told Duque during his weekly prerecorded public address aired late Monday night.
This came after the Commission on Audit (COA) earlier released a report that raised questions on how the Health department used over P67.3 billion in COVID-19 funds. The report said that there are “deficiencies” in the agency’s management of the funds.
READ: COA finds deficiencies in DOH handling of P67.32-B COVID-19 funds; over P11.8-B unspent
The Chief Executive criticized the state auditors instead for releasing the report because it “becomes gospel truth.”
He said it is not fair to people like Duque “who have been working, toiling” in the country’s pandemic response.
If Duque heeds the public outcry for him to resign, the President said he will say “no.”
“Wala ka naman ginawang masama, bakit ka magresign? Kung hanapin nila diyan kung meron silang makita (You didn’t do anything wrong, why will you resign? If they will look for it and they will find) in the end, if you find that there is, mga nawala diyan mga 500 eh di magdemanda kayo. Punta ng Supreme Court (there’s a missing P500 there, then file a case. Go to the Supreme Court),” he said.
READ: Duque not yet off the hook from DOH audit deficiencies — Drilon
Even the association of medical students in the country has criticized the Health chief, saying he is “incapable” of managing and leading the country’s health system.
Duterte said he will not allow any of his Cabinet officials to steal even P1,000, adding that he’s not only promising to protect the people but also the public’s coffers.
“Do you really think I would allow it? Ako na mismo ang nagsasabi sa nyo, papayag ako (I’m telling you right now, will I allow it)? You think I allow it. Tang—magkabarilan kami kung ganun (We’ll have a shootout if that’s the case),” Duterte added.
In October last year, the President came to Duque’s defense after he was tagged as the “godfather” of PhilHealth mafia in the P15-billion missing funds mess.