Duterte says he can’t find plausible argument to suspend Duque

November 2, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday that he could not find any "plausible" reason to suspend Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

Duterte made the statement after Duque reported about what the Health department has been doing amid a disaster that has struck parts of the country.

"It was a good report. I noticed that under your time is the surveillance and the vigilance in keeping track of possible outbreaks, I like that, and you have been doing it," Duterte said during a meeting with  Cabinet officials following his return to Manila from Davao City.

"That's why I cannot find any plausible or even a meager argument for your suspension. I cannot see...you're work is good. The surveillance that you are doing and the vigilance on public health is amply protected," Duterte said.

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives which investigated the alleged anomalies in Philippine Health Insurance Corp. recommended the filing of criminal and administrative charges against Duque being  chairman of the state health insurer and other executives of the agency.

But Duterte has been consistent in defending Duque.

In his report, Duque raised concern over the possible effect of prolonged blackout in areas struck by Super Typhoon "Rolly" on the testing kits for coronavirus disease and other vaccines.

"We've seen a potential problem on the cold chain management for our vaccines, COVID-19 test kits, and specimens if it will take long (time) to restore the power supply in the affected places, especially that there is another Typhoon 'Siony' that is coming," he said.

But Duque added that during his talk with Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, the latter vowed to work harder to restore power.

Citing the report of the Rapid Health Assessment Teams in Region V or Bicol Region, he said  damage to health facilities was estimated at P55 million.

The damaged health facilities include the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (P30 million), Bicol General Hospital (P10 million), and Bicol Regional Diagnostic and Reference Laboratory (P15 million).

Bicol is one of the 12 regions affected by ''Rolly''. Celerina Monte/DMS