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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Duterte confident that Duque can handle Ombudsman probe

Duterte confident that Duque can handle Ombudsman probe

Published Jun 18, 2020 12:00 am
  By Argyll Cyrus Geducos President Duterte is confident that Health Secretary Francisco Duque III can answer all allegations against him by the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) and that the President has full trust and confidence in him. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte confers with Health Secretary Francisco Duque III during a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases at the Malacañan Palace on March 9, 2020. (PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) President Rodrigo Roa Duterte confers with Health Secretary Francisco Duque III during a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases at the Malacañan Palace on March 9, 2020. (PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after the OMB ordered a probe on the alleged irregularities made by the Department of Health (DOH) in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. In his Thursday presser, Roque reiterated that President Duterte has full trust and confidence in Duque. "The President has time and again expressed his continuing trust and confidence po kay Secretary Duque and kampante naman po ang Presidente na masasagot po ni Secretary Duque lahat po 'yang mga alegasyon sa Ombudsman (and he's confident that Secretary Duque can answer all the allegation of the Ombudsman)," he said. "As far as the President is concerned, he (Duque) remains because he has faith and confidence still with Secretary Duque," he added. According to Roque, the remarks of the former adviser to the National Task Force against COVID-19 Dr. Tony Leachon against the DOH will unlikely affect the probe of the Ombudsman and the credibility of the DOH. "Until found guilty they are presumed innocent so sa tingin ko wala naman po (So I think his remarks will have no effect)," he said. In a series of Twitter posts, Leachon said the DOH has lost focus on the data management, risk communication, prioritization, and execution of the plans and that he was frustrated with the lack of sense of urgency of the DOH leadership in data management. Earlier, Roque said President Duterte will let the Ombudsman do its job and that he respects the decision of the OMB to probe Duque and other health officials over the supposed irregularities and anomalies. "The Ombudsman, as we all know, is an independent constitutional body; thus, we will let the process run its course," Roque wrote in his statement Wednesday. "We enjoin Secretary Duque and the entire DOH bureaucracy to cooperate with the investigation and respect the orders of the OMB," he added. Read more: Ombudsman to probe DOH, Duque over irregularities in COVID-19 response
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