DOH surprised with Ombudsman probe: Vergeire

June 18, 2020

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman to probe their coronavirus disease (COVID-19) response caught the agency by surprise and affected the morale of their personnel.

In a television interview Thursday, Vergeire said the investigation was totally unexpected considering the country is in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"When this came out yesterday (Wednesday), it really caught us all by surprise. You know, (why) it reached this point when we are being investigated for these things," said Vergeire.

"Really, the feeling of the DOH employees, those who are only doing their jobs, of course, it has a huge effect on them as they are asking why are they being questioned over the things that they are doing," said Vergeire.

Add to this, she said, is that an investigation will use up their time.

''But whatever is there, we will continue working because this is our mandate. We are open (to the investigation) and we will be working with them and we will cooperate," Vergeire reiterated.

On Wednesday, the Ombudsman ordered the probe on the alleged irregularities in the COVID-19 response of the DOH committed by its officials and employees, including Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

Asked about the claim of Ombudsman Samuel Martires that they were given the "runaround" by some DOH officials in their preliminary probe, she expressed doubts.

"Given a runaround? That may not be the case. Probably, they are just following the process since the RITM is under the DOH. Of course, there will be referrals coming from RITM to DOH and back to RITM," she said.

"As far as we're concerned, all documents that comes in to our office, we give them immediate responses, or at least an acknowledgement that were are still to check it," added Vergeire.

Martires is referring to  when the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and the DOH supposedly gave Ombudsman personnel the runaround.

 Vergeire said they have been instructed by Duque to fully cooperate with the Ombudsman. DMS