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Lacson on Duterte backing for Duque: 'Ano ba talaga kuya?'

Philippines | National

Lacson on Duterte backing for Duque: 'Ano ba talaga kuya?'

By Mario Casayuran

Senator Panfilo M. Lacson lamented yesterday that President Duterte is sending mixed signals regarding the alleged involvement of Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III in the multi-billion-peso scandal at the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

Senator Panfilo M. Lacson (SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

‘’While he (President Duterte) unequivocally stated before that he was giving the DOJ (Department of Justice) -led task force (TF) a free hand in the conduct of their investigation, even announcing to all and sundry that he will adopt whatever findings the TF has and even join Secretary (Menardo) Guevarra in signing the complaint sheet, he is saying another thing when it involves Duque,’’ he said.

Even before and during the Senate Committee of the Whole public hearing on the alleged loss of billions of pesos at PhilHealth due to graft, senators repeated their position that Duque should resign his post as Department of Health (DOH) secretary.

President Duterte had repeated his stand that he trusts Duque.

Lacson restated his position that he has no reason to doubt the probity and consistency of DOJ Secretary Guevarra in investigating the scandal-ridden PhilHealth.

Duque is the current ex-officio chairman of the PhillHealtn board.

In a DOJ budget hearing yesterday, Guevarra said the DOJ might soon be filing charges against a ‘’big fish.’’

‘’As netizens would often express their confusion, ‘Ano ba talaga kuya?’,’’ he asked.

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