Duque as 'captain ball' will cost us the game -Lacson

Though already thumbed down by Malacanang, Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Friday insisted that there is a need for Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to step  down from office even amid the COVID-19 crisis.

In stressing his point, Lacson shared a basketball analogy by Senate President Vicente Sotto III that likened Duque to a "captain ball" who lost control of the game.

"Ang analogy pa nga ni Senate President, middle of the game, nagkakalat ang captain ball mo. Matatalo tayo sa virus kung 'yung captain ball na nagdadala ng team medyo ika nga wala sa kondisyon," he told Dobol B sa News TV.

Both Lacson and Sotto were among the 15 senators who signed a resolution calling for Duque's resignation -- a call rejected by Malacanang.

Lacson said their resolution is a direct call to Duque and does not involve President Rodrigo Duterte.

"Ang panawagan na ito, appeal or demand or kung ano man ang interpretation, alang-alang sa bayan natin dahil marami nang palpak na nangyayari, eh baka pwedeng mag-resign ka na o ibigay mo sa iba na competent," he said.

Asked for his reaction to Duque's decision to remain as DOH chief despite his leadership's alleged blunders in handling the health crisis, Lacson said: "May sarili siyang dahilan, iwanan na natin sa kaniya iyon."

He added that the senators did not endorse or recommend any replacements for Duque to keep matters objective.

The senator said the resolution calling for Duque's resignation will be referred to the appropriate committee once the Senate session resumes.

"Pinag-uusapan namin, i-refer na sa Committee of the Whole pero pag-uusapan namin 'yun. Iko-caucus namin iyon para organized. Kapag Committee of the Whole, ang Senate President ang magpe-preside," Lacson said.

Duque on Thursday said he will stay as Health Secretary as long as Duterte is satisfied with his performance. He also admitted getting hurt by the senators' call for him to step down.

"It's just very unfortunate, and I'm really hurt that it is at this time when the Senate was calling for my resignation when in fact we need to come together," he said.

Malacanang, meanwhile, said Duque should stay put as DOH chief as the country grapples with the COVID-19 crisis. --KBK, GMA News