Duterte ‘not prepared’ to let Duque resign: ‘He is performing’

By Prince Golez

President Rodrigo Duterte has no plan of firing Health Secretary Francisco Duque III amid various calls for his resignation.

Duque has been criticized over the Department of Health’s (DOH) poor handling of P67.32 billion worth of Covid-19 funds.

“I’m sorry but I said maski mag-isa na lang ako, I will stand for Duque even if it will bring me down,” Duterte said in his pre-recorded address aired Saturday morning.

The Chief Executive said he couldn’t find a reason to fire Duque because the health chief was “performing” amid the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic situation.

“Do you want me to fire Duque? Gusto mo paalisin ko? Give me a reason bakit ko paalisin. Eh kinuha ko ‘yung tao, nakiusap eh. Hindi naman ‘yan nag-apply. Hindi naman nakiusap na ‘kunin mo ako’. Ako ang kumuha,” according to him.

“I am not prepared to… I would be doing a great injustice. Alam mo kung bakit? Ako ang kumuha and he is performing. ‘Pag pinaalis ko ‘yan si Duque, lifetime sabihin niyan, ‘Alam mo pinaalis ‘yan dahil ‘nung may corruption sa ano’. You just imagine the injustice that you inflict on your another fellow human being. Hindi ako gano’n,” he added.

Duque had said he has no problem with resigning as DOH chief but Duterte requested him not to step down.

“Wala namang problema ‘yung pagre-resign. Alam naman ni President Duterte, ilang beses na ‘ko nagre-resign ‘yun nga lang pinapakiusapan ako na ‘wag akong bibitiw,” the secretary said in an interview on GMA News’ ‘Balitanghali’.

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Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)