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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Duterte now open to accepting Duque's resignation

Duterte now open to accepting Duque's resignation

Published Aug 25, 2021 09:50 am

President Duterte said that he was now open to accepting the resignation of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III if the latter would voluntarily do so.

President Duterte and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (Malacañang photos)

Duterte made the statement in his pre-recorded public address late Tuesday, August 24, amid questions about the supposed deficiencies amounting to P67.32 billion in the Health department's coronavirus (COVID-19) response funds, as cited by the Commission on Audit (COA).

In his remarks, President Duterte said he will not tell Duque to resign because the latter did not do anything wrong.

However, he said he will accept Duque's resignation if he will volunteer to do it.

"Kung si Duque will offer to resign voluntarily, tatanggapin ko (If Duque will offer to resign voluntarily, I will accept it)," Duterte said.

"Pero kung sabihin mo ako ang magsabi sa kanya 'mag-resign ka' (But if you're telling me that I should tell him to resign), that will never happen, that will never happen," he added.

Despite his support for the Health Secretary, the President assured the public that he will not spare Duque if he is proven to be engaged in corrupt activities.

"Pero ‘pag may nakita ako ng mali sa kanya, maski sampung libo lang o singko mil, talagang sabi ko yayariin kita kasi ipahamak mo ako sa tao, eh (But If I see something wrong with him, whether it's P10,000 or P5,000, I will really cut him out because he will put me in trouble before the public)," Duterte said.

"Nilagay kita diyan tapos sisirain mo ako (I was the one who put you there and yet you will ruin me)," he added.

Meanwhile, Duterte reminded Duque to just carry on with his job, noting that he has held the position before during the time of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

"Alam mo na ganoon naman talaga ang gobyerno. Matagal ka naman sa gobyerno (You know how it is in the government. You've been with the government for a long time)," he said.

"Alam mo na talaga ‘yung nuances, ‘yung (You are aware of the nuances)... You cannot please them all. Basta tayo trabaho lang (Let us just continue working), period," he added.

This was the second time in a week that President Duterte expressed his support for Duque following the issue surrounding the COA report. On Friday, he said he did not care if his support for Duque would cause his downfall.

He added that he will stand by the Health Secretary even if it was just him left who believe in him.

Related Tags

department of health President Duterte francisco duque iii corruption Resignation
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