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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Duque ready to face succeeding Senate hearings on COVID-19 fund use

Duque ready to face succeeding Senate hearings on COVID-19 fund use

Published Oct 15, 2021 03:31 pm

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (Malacañang photo)

Health Secretary Francisco Duque expressed readiness to continue attending the ongoing investigation of the Senate on the alleged inappropriate use of funds for the country’s coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic response.

“Susulat ako sa Executive Secretary na pahintulutan ako na umattend, para matapos na (I will write to the Executive Secretary to allow me to attend-- for us to be able to already finish this),” said Duque in a radio interview on Friday, Oct. 15.

“Para wala nang iniisip na kung anu-ano dahil syempre kami gusto namin din mapalutang ang buong katotohanan. So maigi na yong paattendin na kami (This is to remove doubts and of course we want the truth to come out. So, it will be good if they would allow us to attend),” he added.

President Duterte recently ordered officials of the Executive Branch not to attend the series of Senate hearings as the latter is conducting a probe into the government's handling of funds for COVID-19.

Before Duterte’s order was issued, Duque said that the DOH has been consistent in attending the Senate investigation.

“Mahirap kung ano anu-ano ang iniisip. Maigi na maging transparent (It is difficult if there are doubts. It is good to be transparent),” he said.

“Bago lumabas ang memorandum order, 100 percent ang attendance namin dyan, ang DOH (Before the memorandum order came out, we had 100 percent attendance there---the DOH),” he said.

Related Tags

Senate covid-19 Department of Health (DOH)
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