Evidence may not be enough to recommend raps vs Duque: Lacson

September 2, 2020

Senator Panfilo Lacson Jr., said  Wednesday '' there may not be enough evidence to recommend criminal charges vs Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.''

''If I had my way, as I already said before, based on the three hearings of the Committee of the Whole, there may not be enough evidence to recommend criminal charges against Sec. Duque for the simple reason that like the other members of the PhilHealth Board, he had no hand in the illegal implementation of the IRM; nor was he involved in the procurement of overpriced IT equipment; '' said Lacson in a statement.

But  Lacson said his colleagues - particularly Senate President Vicente Sotto III who chaired the COW hearings - would have seen it another way.

''Since we are a collegial body, we always abide by the rule of the majority,'' said Lacson.

However, Lacson said the Senate Committee of the Whole did include in its recommendation to President Rodrigo Duterte to replace Duque: "To appoint a new Secretary of the Department of Health who has a stronger will to fight corruption within his organization and the agencies under his/her watch." DMS