Roque denies pushing for Leachon’s removal as NTF adviser

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday denied that he and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III pushed for the removal of Dr. Tony Leachon as adviser to the National Task Force Against COVID-19.

Leachon earlier said Roque and Duque were behind his resignation over tweets critical of the Department of Health’s (DOH) coronavirus response. He criticized the DOH’s lack of sense of urgency, problems in COVID-19 data management, and transparency in the communication process.

"He (Leachon) is giving me too much credit," Roque said in a televised briefing.

"Pambansang laway lang po ako. Wala talaga akong kapangyarihang mag-compel sa kung sino sa kanila na mag-resign."

Roque also said no less than President Rodrigo Duterte himself had noticed Leachon's criticisms against the government actions on the COVID-19 problem.

“Let me correct you, Dr. Leachon. Hindi po ako, hindi si Secretary Duque. Mismong Presidente po noted that you (Leachon) should not be doing what you're doing," he said.

“The President did not say that he should resign kasi lahat namin kami hindi sigurado kung anong papel niya. Kaya ko kinausap si Secretary Duque when he questioned DOH figures was I thought he was an adviser to Secretary Duque. Hindi pala.”

In a statement on Wednesday, NTF chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. said that Leachon was let go because of his “preemptive” release of some information that jeopardized communications between the government’s coronavirus task forces.

Galvez said Leachon had “remained deaf to collegial advice.”

“When the President spoke, I hope Secretary Galvez does not mind, ang sabi talaga ni Secretary Galvez ay nanlambot siya with what the President declared as far as the statements of Dr. Leachon are concerned,” Roque added.

“Siguro po hindi po ako, hindi si Secretary Duque ang nag-udyok kay Secretary Galvez to let go of him, it was a declaration of the President himself.” — RSJ, GMA News