Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that he is planning to relinquish his post after the issues raised against the Department of Health (DOH) with regard the Commission on Audit's (COA) report are settled.
Duque said that he just needs to address the COA findings wherein it found deficiencies in the handling of the P67.3 billion fund for the DOH’s coronavirus disease (COVID-19) response.
“Yun naman ang aking pakiusap na i-clear ang COA findings, COA observations, at yung aming action plan doon sa mga recommendations and then I am leaving (That is my request--to clear the COA findings and observations and to implement our action plan on those recommendations and then I am leaving),” said Duque in an interview over DZBB radio on Saturday, Aug. 28.
President Duterte already knew about his plan of quitting. “Oo nakarating na sa kanya (Yes, he already knew about it),” he said.
“It’s a matter of time. Ayun naman talaga ang hiningi ko. sabi ko 'I’m stepping down... pero bigyan lang ako ng kaunting panahon para maayos namin ng DOH ang lahat ng COA observations and findings’ (That’s exactly what I asked for. I said ‘I’m stepping down... but just give me more time so I, as well as the DOH, can address the COA observations and findings),” said Duque.
The Health chief maintained that he is not involved in any corrupt activities.
“Basta malinis ang konsensiya mo, iyon ang pinakamahalaga sa lahat. Wala kang ginawang katiwalian. Wala kang ginawang masama (As long as you have a clear conscience, that's the most important thing. You are not involved in any corrupt activities. You have done nothing wrong),” he said.
DOH still supports Duque
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Duque still enjoys their full support.
“Kami sa DOH strongly supports the Secretary of Health. Nakita natin kung paano naman nagtrabaho ang Secretary natin mula nung nag umpisa kasama po ang buong kawani ng DOH (We at DOH strongly support the Secretary of Health. We have seen how our Secretary has worked since the beginning--- with the entire DOH staff),” said Vergeire during a public press briefing on Saturday.
“Sana hindi naman po mapunta sa puntong iyan na kailangan pang mag resign dahil well accounted for naman lahat ng mga pondong meron tayo (I hope we don't get to that point where he would have to resign because all the funds that we have are well accounted for),” she added.
If ever Duque decides to continue on with his plan of resigning, Vergeire said that they will support whoever will replace him.
“Kung saka-sakali na dadating tayo diyan sa punto na iyan, ay kami naman po ang magso-soldier on lang (If ever we'll get to that point, we will just soldier on),” said Vergeire.
“Kami po ay magtutuloy pa rin ng response. Ang amin pong serbisyo ay para sa publiko. Kung sino man po ang magiging pinuno, kami po ay magtutuloy-tuloy lang (We will continue our response. Our service is for the public. Whoever becomes the leader, we will just continue),” she added.