Duque to step down after clearing COA issue
A day after being advised by Sen. Bong Go to make the “supreme sacrifice when the right time comes,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III yesterday said he will vacate his post after he addresses all the findings raised by the Commission on Audit (COA) in its report on the Department of Health (DOH).
“‘Yun naman ang aking pakiusap na i-clear ang COA findings, COA observations, ang aming action plan doon sa recommendations and then I am leaving,” he said in a TV interview.
Duque said he is already talking to the heads of the DOH regional offices, DOH hospitals and the chiefs of the treatment rehabilitation centers across the country to make sure that they will comply with the COA’s requirements and recommendations.
“It’s a matter of time. ‘Yun naman talaga ang hiningi ko. I’m stepping down… pero bigyan lang ako ng kaunting panahon para maayos namin ng DOH ang lahat ng COA observations and findings,” he said.
The beleaguered health chief expressed belief that the COVID-19 response will not be affected should he resign from his position, noting that the vaccination program is already in place and the supply is already coming in the latter part of the year.
Duque also assured the public that he did not pocket even half a centavo from the DOH funds.
Should he push through with his resignation, Duque said he considers being the DOH chief during the COVID-19 pandemic as one of his legacies.
“Ako ang naging kalihim during the pandemic at huhusgahan ako ng taumbayan kung ‘yung bilang ng namatay ba ay napakalaki, katulad ng ibang bansa na daang libo o isang milyon ang namatay. Sa atin naman kahit papaano mismong si Senator (Richard) Gordon na nagsasabi na ang death rate natin ay mababa compared sa ibang bansa,” the health chief said.
“So let the people be the judge. ‘Yung judgment na ‘yan unfortunately ‘di puwedeng dumating ‘yan ngayon. Matagal pa darating ‘yang judgment na ‘yan kapag halimbawa naayos na ang herd immunity, ang vaccination ng lahat ng mamamayan at maging common cold na lang ang COVID-19. Ibig sabihin malaki ang papel na aking ginampanan diyan, lalong lalo na ang papel na ginampanan ng DOH,” he added.
