Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Monday disagreed with Malacanang’s claim that Health Secretary Francisco Duque III could not be corrupt because he is already wealthy.
Lacson made the comment when asked about the matter at the Laging Handa briefing of state-run PTV-4.
Duque and other Health Department officials presently face an investigation by the Ombudsman over irregularities in the DOH’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Ang isang comment lang dito, mawalang galang lang, parang mali yata ang presumption o theory na pag mayaman na ang tao hindi magnanakaw. Di sang-ayon yata doon na pag ang isang tao pag sobrang dami ng bilyones wala na siyang gagawin to further enrich himself. Parang hindi tama ang teorya,” said Lacson, a vocal critic of Duque.
Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte said he is willing to risk his reputation in defending Duque amid the probe.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. added Duterte knows the background of Duque’s family and knows the Duque family will not steal.
Meanwhile, Lacson said it is still up to Duterte whether to keep or fire Duque.
But he pointed out he and at least 13 fellow senators have sought Duque’s resignation over his failure of leadership.
Even Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas on Monday morning sought Duque’s resignation, he pointed out.
“Unang una, prerogative ng Pangulo mag-hire and fire. At walang pwedeng magkwestyon. Ang kinukwestyon namin, kaming 14 senators na pumirma ng resolution nagpasa ng resolution calling for the resignation of Sec Duque. Kami pagkatapos namin, pinaka-latest mismong si Iloilo City Mayor Trenas, nanawagan din sa pag-resign. Pati health workers natin nanawagan din na magpahinga muna si Sec Duque. But having said that, hindi natin kinukwestyon ang prerogative ng Pangulo para i-retain at bigyan ng tiwala,” he said.
Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)
Hello, my name is Jack Sparrow. I'm a 50 year old self-employed Pirate from the Caribbean.
No comments:
Post a Comment