Senator Richard Gordon on Sunday said critics of beleaguered Health Secretary Francisco Duque III were gunning for his position and said replacing him in the middle of a health crisis would do more harm than good.
"Definitely, there were issues. But nobody is perfect. And as I see it… they were targeting the position," Gordon said in an interview on radio dzBB.
He added that the DOH and PhilHealth, which Duque leads, now have access to even more funds.
Duque is the subject of an investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman over alleged anomalies related to the government's COVID-19 response.
These include the delayed procurement of personal protective equipment and other medical gear for health care workers, the rising number of deaths and infected medical front liners, delays in the release of benefits and financial assistance to health workers who are infected or die by COVID-19 and delays in the reporting of COVID-19 deaths and cases.
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Gordon acknowledged that it is the job of the Ombudsman to investigate these problems, but said the investigation should be done quickly for the sake of “confidence and hope.”
Senator Christopher Go welcomed the decision by the Ombudsman to investigate Duque and other health officials, but said the fight against COVID-19 must continue.
Senator Juan Edgardo Angara said while the DOH was exempted from the Procurement Act under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, the temptation to purchase overpriced goods could not be overlooked.
Senator Francis Tolentino said all government transactions must be transparent.
Go on Sunday said Duque continues to enjoy the trust of President Duterte despite the investigation by the Ombudsman.
In a statement, Go said Duque continues to have the full trust of the President, and said it was difficult to replace the Health secretary in the middle of a pandemic.
Earlier, Ombudsman Samuel Martires said his office is issuing subpoenas to Duque and Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado for documents detailing where funds for the COVID-19 response went.
“We want to know where the money was spent, how long it took to provide aid to the families of front liners who died after they were inflicted with the virus… Where's the money and where did it go?” Martires told CNN in Filipino.
Budget officials said they have already sent the requested documents.
As of June 9, the government has spent P354 billion on the effort to contain COVID-19.
Two weeks ago, President Rodrigo Duterte scolded Health officials for the slow release of compensation to the families of health workers who were sick or died of COVID-19. The delays in the release of the benefits sparked calls for Duque’s resignation in the Senate.
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