Lacson: Red flags in DOH spending of P67.3B reflects Duque’s misplaced priorities

The Commission on Audit’s report finding deficiencies on how the Department of Health managed some P67.3 billion in COVID funds may betray DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III’s misplaced priorities, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Thursday.

Lacson said the issues brought to light by the COA report showed Duque does not care about the health concerns of the people.

“Sadly, the issues brought to light by the Commission on Audit report, among others, shows that he doesn’t care about the health concerns of the people who he is supposed to serve,” he said.

Lacson noted Duque did not appear to be aware of the DOH’s supply chain issues, recalling an exchange he had with Duque at the Commission on Appointments.

At Duque’s confirmation hearing, Lacson said he asked Duque some questions on DOH’s supply chain issues and what he intended to do to resolve those issues.

“He could not answer my questions satisfactorily, if at all,” Lacson recalled.

“Am I surprised that he did not even bother to research in spite of his obvious lack of knowledge on the importance of the supply chain in his department? What gives? It’s hubris. He only cares about his boss, the President who, for reasons only they probably know cannot and will not remove him from office in spite of repeated calls from the majority of senators and other sectors,” he added.

Lacson also said senators will take a closer look at the issues raised by the COA involving the DOH’s use of public funds to deal with the pandemic. He said the Senate will take up the matter during its deliberations on the budget of the DOH for 2022.

“The issue on the DOH’s management of pandemic response funds will definitely be taken up during the deliberations of the DOH’s 2022 budget, once the Senate starts the hearings before approving their budget. This is among the many other issues hounding the agency,” he said.

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