Duterte won't interfere with Ombudsman's probe of DOH
Published Jun 23, 2020 12:00 am
By Genalyn Kabiling
The Office of the Ombudsman is expected to continue its probe on the Department of Health’s (DOH’s) alleged irregular coronavirus response regardless of President Duterte’s expression of support for his officials, Malacañang said Tuesday.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque (PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the President respects the independence of Ombudsman Samuel Martires and would not interfere with the investigation.
“The investigation will continue. That's why the President said, with all due respect to Ombudsman Martires. He knows the Ombudsman is an independent and constitutional office and he will not block its investigation,” Roque said during a televised press briefing Tuesday.
“He's just saying that he is confident that his officials in the Cabinet can be trusted,” he said.
Roque recognized that the Office of the Ombudsman is headed by a seasoned judge who could “discern facts for himself.” Despite the President's comments, Roque also said the Ombudsman also knows that its mandate goes beyond personalities.
“Ombudsman Martires is a criminal lawyer, a former RTC (regional trial court) judge, CA (Court of Appeals) Justice, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, hindi po iyan matitinag (he will not budge),” he said.
“He knows his law. He will look into whether there is violation of laws such as the anti-graft law. He will likely look into the Salonga law on the code of conduct for public officers),” he said.
In a televised address Monday night, President Duterte vouched for the integrity of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and other Cabinet members amid the Ombudsman probe on the pandemic response. The President is also certain that Duque won't steal public funds since he is already rich.
The Ombudsman had earlier launched a probe into the alleged irregularities in the health department's pandemic response, including the delay in the procurement of protective gear and other benefits for health workers. Duque has promised to cooperate with the Ombudsman probe.
Roque said the President believes in the integrity of Duque “because he doesn’t see anything that has been criminally committed” by the health chief.
“He has said that people make mistakes and for as long as these are honest mistakes then he’s willing to go beyond his mistakes,” he said over CNN Philippines Tuesday.
“But as a matter of integrity, he believes that the Duque family will not steal, he knows their background very well,” he said.
Duterte's friendship with Duque's brother
Asked about the reason behind Duterte's trust and confidence in Duque, Roque admitted that that the President is actually “very close” to the brother of the health secretary.
“What I understand is Atty. Gonz Duque was the only one who welcomed the President in Dagupan City when he ran as president, and of course the friendship of the President with Atty. Gonz Duque go way back from his presidency,” he said.
“They have known each other for a long time, they are both San Beda Law graduates and we can only say that they have a very close and deep friendship,” he added.
Roque said the President mentioned his ties with Duque's brother during the meeting with officials Monday night. He added that the President knows the Duterte family will not steal public funds since they are already wealthy.
“He mentioned that when he appointed Secretary Duque, he had only met him once in a hotel by accident ‘and it is the brother whom he knows very well,” he said.
“And he also said that he knows the family or that family is very wealthy, owning a school, university, and various other businesses in Dagupan and that the Duques don’t have to steal from government ‘no, because they are already affluent,” he said.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque (PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the President respects the independence of Ombudsman Samuel Martires and would not interfere with the investigation.
“The investigation will continue. That's why the President said, with all due respect to Ombudsman Martires. He knows the Ombudsman is an independent and constitutional office and he will not block its investigation,” Roque said during a televised press briefing Tuesday.
“He's just saying that he is confident that his officials in the Cabinet can be trusted,” he said.
Roque recognized that the Office of the Ombudsman is headed by a seasoned judge who could “discern facts for himself.” Despite the President's comments, Roque also said the Ombudsman also knows that its mandate goes beyond personalities.
“Ombudsman Martires is a criminal lawyer, a former RTC (regional trial court) judge, CA (Court of Appeals) Justice, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, hindi po iyan matitinag (he will not budge),” he said.
“He knows his law. He will look into whether there is violation of laws such as the anti-graft law. He will likely look into the Salonga law on the code of conduct for public officers),” he said.
In a televised address Monday night, President Duterte vouched for the integrity of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and other Cabinet members amid the Ombudsman probe on the pandemic response. The President is also certain that Duque won't steal public funds since he is already rich.
The Ombudsman had earlier launched a probe into the alleged irregularities in the health department's pandemic response, including the delay in the procurement of protective gear and other benefits for health workers. Duque has promised to cooperate with the Ombudsman probe.
Roque said the President believes in the integrity of Duque “because he doesn’t see anything that has been criminally committed” by the health chief.
“He has said that people make mistakes and for as long as these are honest mistakes then he’s willing to go beyond his mistakes,” he said over CNN Philippines Tuesday.
“But as a matter of integrity, he believes that the Duque family will not steal, he knows their background very well,” he said.
Duterte's friendship with Duque's brother
Asked about the reason behind Duterte's trust and confidence in Duque, Roque admitted that that the President is actually “very close” to the brother of the health secretary.
“What I understand is Atty. Gonz Duque was the only one who welcomed the President in Dagupan City when he ran as president, and of course the friendship of the President with Atty. Gonz Duque go way back from his presidency,” he said.
“They have known each other for a long time, they are both San Beda Law graduates and we can only say that they have a very close and deep friendship,” he added.
Roque said the President mentioned his ties with Duque's brother during the meeting with officials Monday night. He added that the President knows the Duterte family will not steal public funds since they are already wealthy.
“He mentioned that when he appointed Secretary Duque, he had only met him once in a hotel by accident ‘and it is the brother whom he knows very well,” he said.
“And he also said that he knows the family or that family is very wealthy, owning a school, university, and various other businesses in Dagupan and that the Duques don’t have to steal from government ‘no, because they are already affluent,” he said.