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Palace: Duque to stay as Health chief amid senators' call for resignation


Health Secretary Francisco Duque will stay on despite senators' call for his resignation for alleged failures in the government's response against COVID-19, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said on Thursday.

Medialdea said President Rodrigo Duterte decided that Duque should stay on at the helm of the DOH.

The Palace secretary said Duterte appreciated the senators' call which, he said, gave him a chance to assess the performance of the secretary of health.

"The President has made a decision for Health Secretary Duque to stay put. He also expressed his appreciation for the senators’ gesture in giving him the opportunity to weigh his options on the performance his SOH," Medialdea said.

"Secretary Duque was made aware of the sentiments of the senators and the President expects him to work even harder to set aside any doubts on his capacity and sincerity to serve the public during these difficult times," he added.

Several senators, including Duterte's close allies on Thursday filed a resolution asking for Duque's immediate resignation.

The 14 signatories of P.S. Resolution No. 362 said Duque must step down "for his failure of leadership, negligence, lack of foresight, and inefficiency in the performance of his mandate" amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Duque's shortcomings resulted in "poor planning, delayed response, lack of transparency, and misguided and flip-flopping policies" for COVID-19, according to the lawmakers.

In a statement, Duque said he would  continue to serve the country in his best capacity despite the senators' call for him to resign.

"We will answer these allegations in due time but right now we will continue to be in the trenches with our health care workers and frontliners," Duque said in a statement.

"I will continue to serve the country to the best of my abilities. Magtulungan po tayo," he added. -Joseph Morong/NB, GMA News

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