Año supports 'hard working' Duque amid Ombudsman probe: He's just overwhelmed

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Thursday expressed support to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III who is facing investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman over issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite criticisms on how Duque is handling the health crisis, Año said he still believes that the country's top health official was just "overwhelmed" with tasks, especially in preventing the spread of the virus among the public.

"Being a colleague of Secretary Duque, I have seen him working every day and he's really a very hard worker and I also express my support to Secretary Duque," Año said in an interview on ANC.

"Nakita ko kung gaano siya kaseryoso, na-overwhelm lang talaga sa dami ng trabaho, ng issue at saka itong managing this crisis is very, very, very hard," he added.

"But at this time, I believe we have to support Secretary Duque." 

Ombudsman Samuel Martires has said the motu proprio investigation on Duque and other Department of Health officials was launched over the following reasons:

• purchase of 100,000 test kits by the DOH,
• delayed procurement of personal protective equipment and other medical gears necessary for the protection of healthcare workers,
• alleged lapses and irregularities that led to the death of medical workers,
• rising number of deaths and infected medical frontliners,
• inaction in the release processing of benefits and financial assistance of “fallen” and infected medical frontliners, and
• confusing and delayed reporting of COVID-19 related deaths and confirmed cases

The DOH said it will comply with the Ombudsman's directives during the course of the investigation. --KBK, GMA News