Health Secretary Francisco Duque III is ready to resign from the post once all issues identified by the Commission on Audit (COA) regarding Department of Health (DOH) funding are addressed.
Duque made the statement after being challenged by Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go to make the “supreme sacrifice” when the time comes.
Duque said his only request was that the findings of the COA be clear.
“‘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,” said Duque.
He also said he is already in talks with the heads of DOH regional offices, DOH hospitals, and chiefs of treatment rehabilitation centers across the country to comply with the COA’s demands 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.
He believes that his resignation will not affect the COVID-19 response in the country.
Duque is ready to resign
He said the vaccination program is running smoothly and vaccine supplies are expected to arrive in the country by the end of this year.
He also assured the public that he did not have any pocketed DOH funds.
He added that he considers one of his legacies to be his DOH chief during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“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,” said Duque.
He said let the people judge though and he said it will only happen when COVID-19 becomes an ordinary disease.
Earlier, Go said that Duterte loves Duque and it is still his decision to follow if he accepts his advice to sacrifice.
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