Palace downplays Gordon’s statement that Duterte not sincere on fight vs corruption

November 16, 2020

Malacanang downplayed on Monday the statement of Senator Richard Gordon who expressed doubt on the sincerity of President Rodrigo Duterte's administration's fight against corruption.

"That's the personal opinion of Senator Gordon. He's entitled to have that opinion," said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in a televised press briefing.

Gordon reportedly said that the government is dilly-dallying in prosecuting alleged erring government officials, including those tagged in several Senate investigations.

Gordon wondered if the fight against corruption by the Duterte government was just a slogan, a reward, or if it was for real.

Roque said Duterte's track record would show that he sacked his own supporters from various government posts.

He also said that in Duterte's Talk to the People every week, it would be a regular feature that he would read names of government officials and personnel who are either suspended, being investigated, or dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman.

"When it comes to PhilHealth (Philippine Health Insurance Corporation), those so-called members of the mafia have been charged. perhaps, not these individuals whom Senator Gordon said should have been charged, but the Ombudsman has followed the recommendation of the Senate as a Whole those (members) of the mafia who should be suspended," he said.

But Roque acknowledged there were officials included in the Senate recommendation to be charged but are not facing any case before the Ombudsman.

Roque was apparently referring to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III whom Duterte has cleared several times of any involvement in the PhilHealth fund mess despite the Senate recommendation that he should also be charged criminally and administratively. Celerina Monte/DMS