All Cabinet members, including Duque, serve at PRRD's pleasure --- Roque
By Genalyn Kabiling
Any Cabinet member can be removed from office once President Duterte loses trust and confidence in the official, Malacañang said Monday.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque
(OPS / MANILA BULLETIN) Presidential spokesman Harry Roque maintained that all Cabinet members, including Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, serve at the pleasure of the President. Roque made the remarks following reports the President is supposedly looking for a replacement of the health secretary amid alleged mishandling of the coronavirus crisis. “Wala po akong alam sa artikulo na ‘yan. Kahit sino pa po sa Gabinete, we all serve at the pleasure of the President. Kung nawalan po ng tiwala ang Presidente anytime, any Cabinet member can be removed (I don't know anything about that article. All members of the Cabinet, we all serve at the pleasure of the President. If the President loses trust, any Cabinet member can be removed anytime)," Roque said during the "Laging Handa" public briefing on state television. Asked if the President still trusts Duque, Roque said: “Habang hindi pa po natatanggal, mayroon pa pong trust and confidence (Until one is removed, there is trust and confidence)." Earlier, the Palace announced that Duque should be allowed to perform his job amid renewed calls for his removal over the controversial "second wave" announcement. Roque said Duque serves at the pleasure of the President in this challenging time. "Secretary Duque will answer allegations in the proper forum but for now let us allow him to do his job during this global health emergency,” Roque said last week. Duque earlier announced that the country was dealing with the “second wave” of the transmission of the coronavirus infections. This statement triggered concerns from lawmakers and the general public. The Palace clarified, however, that the country was actually still in the first wave and that the government continued to take steps to avert a second wave or another sharp increase in the number of coronavirus cases.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque(OPS / MANILA BULLETIN) Presidential spokesman Harry Roque maintained that all Cabinet members, including Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, serve at the pleasure of the President. Roque made the remarks following reports the President is supposedly looking for a replacement of the health secretary amid alleged mishandling of the coronavirus crisis. “Wala po akong alam sa artikulo na ‘yan. Kahit sino pa po sa Gabinete, we all serve at the pleasure of the President. Kung nawalan po ng tiwala ang Presidente anytime, any Cabinet member can be removed (I don't know anything about that article. All members of the Cabinet, we all serve at the pleasure of the President. If the President loses trust, any Cabinet member can be removed anytime)," Roque said during the "Laging Handa" public briefing on state television. Asked if the President still trusts Duque, Roque said: “Habang hindi pa po natatanggal, mayroon pa pong trust and confidence (Until one is removed, there is trust and confidence)." Earlier, the Palace announced that Duque should be allowed to perform his job amid renewed calls for his removal over the controversial "second wave" announcement. Roque said Duque serves at the pleasure of the President in this challenging time. "Secretary Duque will answer allegations in the proper forum but for now let us allow him to do his job during this global health emergency,” Roque said last week. Duque earlier announced that the country was dealing with the “second wave” of the transmission of the coronavirus infections. This statement triggered concerns from lawmakers and the general public. The Palace clarified, however, that the country was actually still in the first wave and that the government continued to take steps to avert a second wave or another sharp increase in the number of coronavirus cases.