DOH can't afford to lose leader amid COVID-19 crisis –Vergeire

The Department of Health (DOH) sees no need for Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to resign or take a leave of absence amid the Ombudsman's investigation on the alleged irregularities in department's COVID-19 response efforts.

"Wala pa kaming nakikitang pangangailangan para siya ay magbitiw o di kaya ay temporarily tumigil muna sa trabaho para bigyang-daan ang imbestigasyon," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told reporters in a virtual interview Friday.

She said Duque's presence is highly regarded by the DOH workforce and should not be removed amid the health crisis.

"Napakaimportante ho ng isang leader sa isang organisasyon. Kahit po nakaupo lang siya diyan pero kung siya ay nirerespeto at siya ay nakakapagbigay ng kumpiyansa para sa mga tauhan niya, sa tingin ko po kaya gumagaling ang mga tao sa ilalim niya," Vergeire said.

"We have our full support to the Secretary and we still think that he should be retained dito sa kaniyang posisyon," she added.

On Wednesday, Ombudsman Samuel Martires said he has ordered a motu proprio investigation on Duque and other health officials for irregularities and anomalies they allegedly committed amid the health crisis.

Leave of absence

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, one of the lawmakers who sought the resignation of Duque in April over alleged "failure of leadership," said the Cabinet official should at least take a leave of absence for an impartial investigation.

He added that he is confident the health undersecretaries can manage ng DOH without Duque, since much of the legwork is being conducted by the National Task Force Against COVID-19.

"Bulk of the activity is now outside of DOH. Nakita ko marami tayong mga undersecretary na kaya naman pagdating sa epidemiology at pagdating sa public health advices," Gatchalian said.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque maintained on Thursday that President Rodrigo Duterte is confident that Duque can answer the allegations against him before the Ombudsman.

Vergeire, on the other hand, said the undersecretaries need Duque's leadership.

"Ang hiling para siya ay magbitaw dahil kaya naman ng undersecretaries, sana naiintindihan po ng mga tao kaya po nakakayanan ng mga undersecretaries ang aming trabaho dahil mayroon ho kaming leader na katulad ni Secretary Duque," she said.

Duque, who was also the health secretary from 2005 to 2010, was appointed DOH chief once more by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2017. He rejected calls for his resignation two months ago and maintained that he serves at the pleasure of the President. Malacanang, during that time, said Duterte wants Duque to "stay put."

'Low morale'

Vergeire said that the investigation on allegations hounding the DOH have also affected the morale of its personnel who had been tirelessly attending to different health issues prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Napakalaking kalungkutan ang inabot ng DOH noong narinig natin na bigla tayong iniimbestigahan ng Ombudsman at nagkakaroon pa ng allegations tulad nito. Kung matatandaan ninyo, halos almost dalawang taon na ang aming talagang exhaustive work," Vergeire said.

"We started off with measles, sumunod ang dengue, sumunod ang polio, pumutok ang bulkan sa Taal, tapos itong pandemya na ito. The DOH is working very very hard for these past years. Itong pagkakabigay ng report na iniimbestigahan tayo ng Ombudsman ay malaking dagok sa ating mga tauhan. 'Yung morale talaga ay bumaba," she added.

Vergeire, nonetheless, reiterated that the DOH will fully cooperate with the investigation. — KBK/RSJ, GMA News