Manila Bulletin
Duterte vows to stand by Duque 'even if it will bring me down'
President Rodrigo Duterte has publicly defended Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, stating he will not fire him despite calls for resignation.
Duque faced criticism regarding the Department of Health's (DOH) alleged deficiencies in managing PHP67.32 billion in COVID-19 response funds, as flagged by the Commission on Audit (COA).
The COA later clarified that these deficiencies do not conclusively indicate corruption.
Duterte reiterated his policy of only firing officials involved in corruption or dereliction of duty, asserting that Duque is fulfilling his mandate during the pandemic.
The President vowed to stand by Duque "even if it will bring me down," stating he does not care if his satisfaction or approval ratings go down because of his support for the Health Secretary.
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President Rodrigo Duterte revealed he has rejected Health Secretary Francisco Duque III's resignation offers twice, stating he would not tolerate corruption among his Cabinet members.
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President Rodrigo Duterte stated he would accept Health Secretary Francisco Duque III's resignation if offered voluntarily, but would not dismiss him.
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Health Secretary Francisco Duque III stated that the Commission on Audit's (COA) report on the Department of Health's (DOH) P67.32 billion COVID-19 fund use has demoralized the agency.
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President Rodrigo Duterte defended the Department of Health (DOH) over allegations of corruption concerning P67.3 billion in COVID-19 response funds.
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Senator Grace Poe questioned why Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has not yet been suspended, even preventively, by the Office of the Ombudsman.
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