Duque: No country anticipated COVID-19

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Thursday stressed that no country in the world had anticipated the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Fifteen senators earlier called for his immediate resignation for his alleged "failure of leadership, negligence, lack of foresight, and inefficiency."

"Mahirap naman 'yung babanatan ako sa mga bagay-bagay na hindi ko naman inasahan na mangyayari at hindi rin inasahan ng maraming bansa," Duque said in an interview on 24 Oras.

The secretary stressed that countries in the world did not expect the pandemic that brought about problems related to shortage in the global supply chain.

Duque explained that the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine had ordered COVID-19 test kits as early as January but these arrived in batches due to complications.

"So mahirap 'yung mga paratang sa akin na para bang alam ko na mangyayari ito at hindi ako naghanda," Duque said.

"Mahirap naman yata 'yung paghuhusga sa akin na ang buong mundo ay talagang hirap sa pag-tugon sa COVID-19. I tried my best, no? And we continue to try our best," he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte has earlier decided that Duque will remain as the chief of the Health Department.

Duque called for cooperation against the pandemic.

"Hindi po ito madaling trabaho, mabigat na suliranin, at sana naman ang pakiusap ko ay let's support each other. Magtulungan po tayo," Duque said.

The secretary also admitted his imperfections, saying that despite holding positions in previous administrations, he was fighting against an unknown enemy.

"[A]ko naman ay hindi perfect, kahit na marami na po akong mga hinawakan na posisyon sa mga nag-daan na administrasyon. Inaamin ko ang aking mga limitasyon lalong lalo na sa isang kalaban na hindi ko kilala," he said.

"[I]tong COVID-19 na ito bago lang ito, eh. four months old na virus, no? Wala naman tayong naging karanasan nung mga nakaraang taon o dekada. Wala, eh, bago ito. Hanggang ngayon nagbabago ito," Duque added. —Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News