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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Robredo shrugs off quit calls on Duque: 'It won't do nothing if system doesn't change'

Robredo shrugs off quit calls on Duque: 'It won't do nothing if system doesn't change'

Published Aug 15, 2021 05:12 pm

Vice President Leni Robredo believes the renewed calls for the resignation of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III "would not do nothing" if the country’s system on COVID-19 response remains unchanged.

Vice President Leni Robredo and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (OVP/PCOO /MB FILE PHOTO)

Robredo, a leader of the opposition, downplayed the mounting calls for Duque’s resignation when was asked about the issue during her Sunday radio show.

“Kasi kahit magbitiw kung hindi naman mag-i-improve iyong sistema, wala rin (Even if he resigns and the system won’t improve, it would be for nothing),” she said.

More important than Duque’s resignation, Robredo emphasized, is how the country is “moving forward” in responding to the pandemic.

“Ang pinaka-importante sa atin palagi moving forward, ‘di ba. Ano iyong makaka-improve? (The most important for us is always moving forward, right. What would make us improve),” she said.

The embattled Health chief is again facing calls to step down from his post over the “deficiencies” in the use of the P67.3 billion worth of COVID-19 funds, as flagged recently by the Commission on Audit (COA).

READ: Robredo says unspent 2020 budget funds a result of ‘poor governance’

COA said that such deficiencies led to “missed opportunities” in the country’s pandemic response.

"These deficiencies contributed to the challenges encountered and missed opportunities by the DOH during the time of state of calamity/national emergency, and cast doubts on the regularity of related transactions," it added.

The vice president underscored the need to conduct an investigation into the poor use of billions of funds for COVID-19 response.

READ: ‘Hindi kami aatras’: DOH ready to face any investigation on P67-B COVID-19 funds

Of the DOH’s pandemic funds, she was particularly concerned about the reported P95 million worth of expired medicines, drugs, and medical supplies.

Robredo also noted some P24.6 billion were unobligated while P4.7 billion were appropriated but remain unreleased.

“Hindi ko alam kung iyong Senate magkakaroon ng investigation about this pero kailangan kasi hindi puwedeng tuloy-tuloy na nangyayari ito na at a time na kailangang kailangan natin iyong pera (I don’t know if the Senate will have an investigation about this but it should not continue to happen at a time we really need money),” she said.

Related Tags

VP Leni Robredo COVID-19 FUNDS COA francisco duque iii doh Resignation
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