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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Due process must be observed before suspending any gov't official --- Duque

Due process must be observed before suspending any gov't official --- Duque

Published Aug 19, 2021 04:41 pm

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (Malacañang photo)

Due process must be followed before any government official can be suspended from his position, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III said on Thursday, Aug. 19.

“Kung sususpendihan ka, may proseso iyan. May imbestigasyon, titingnan... kung may basis, kung may complaint. May proseso, may due process (If you will be suspended, there is a process. There is an investigation, you have to look... if there is a basis, if there is a complaint. There is a process, there is a due process),” said Duque during a television interview.

Senator Grace Poe on Thursday, Aug. 18, said that Duque should be suspended over the alleged deficiencies in handling the funds for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) response, which was flagged by the Commission on Audit (COA).

The Health chief, meanwhile, vowed that the DOH will resolve the issue with regards to the COA report.

“Tandaan natin naglabas ng clarificatory statement ang COA na wala naman audit finding na nagpapakita na may nawalang pondo sa katiwalian at korapsyon (Let us remember that the COA issued a clarificatory statement that there was no audit finding that shows that funds were lost due to corruption),” said Duque.

“Hinihingi lang nila ang mga dokumento na ibibigay naman ng (They are just asking for the documents which will be provided by the) DOH and its implementing operations unit. In fact, (we have been) given 60 days to do all of these,” he added.

Duque also said that he tried to resign from his position in the past but was rejected by President Duterte.

“Well ako wala naman problema ang pagreresign. Alam naman ni President Duterte ilang beses na akong nag re-resign kaya lang pina-pakiusapan ako na huwag akong magbibitiw (Well, I have no problem with resigning. President Duterte knows how many times I tried to resign but he asked me not to do it.),” he said.

On Aug. 16, President Duterte bared that Duque already attempted to resign twice but he did not accept it

The employees at the DOH still support Duque, said DOH Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega on Aug. 17.

Related stories:

Poe: Duque should be suspended over unused COVID-19 funds

‘You did nothing wrong’: Duterte rejects Duque resignation anew

DOH still supports Duque — Vega

Related Tags

covid-19 Department of Health (DOH) suspension FRANCISCO DUQUE Commission on Audit (COA) Grace Poe
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