Bong Go: Duque in tears, wants to resign amid COVID-19, PhilHealth mess

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III is on the verge of leaving his post amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the allegations involving him in the PhilHealth mess, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go said Tuesday.

Go, the chairman of the Senate committee on health, made the remark as he backed President Rodrigo Duterte's advice to Duque not to resign.

"Health Secretary Duque still has the trust and confidence of the President and we must respect that. Sa totoo lang po, nangingiyak na po si Secretary Duque at gusto na talagang bumitaw," Go, a former aide of Duterte, said in a statement.

"Ginagawa naman po ng DOH (Department of Health) ang lahat ng kanilang makakaya para magampanan ang kanilang mandato lalo na sa panahon ngayon na mayroong health crisis tayong hinaharap," he added.

Go said he supported the Senate report on alleged irregularities in PhilHealth with only one reservation.

"I leave it to the President to judge as the sole appointing authority, if there is a need to make changes in his Cabinet. As I have explained in the Senate Session last week, this is my only reservation upon signing the Committee Report," Go said.

When 14 senators asked for Duque's resignation in April, Go said it was not the right time to replace the "captain" in the "war" against COVID-19.

The senator, nonetheless, said he would support letting Duque go if the task force led by the Department of Justice finds evidence that the latter is indeed involved in corruption.

"Pag napatunayang may corruption, wala na pong dapat pag-usapan pa diyan. He has to go — at kung sino po 'yung sangkot sa corruption, kailangan pong umalis, kailangang managot, at kailangang makulong," Go said.

On Monday, Duterte said he fully trusted Duque and told him not to resign despite the recommendation of the Senate to slap him with criminal charges over the PhilHealth mess.

"Secretary Duque, this is not the time for you to resign. Hindi pa panahon mag-resign. I’ve heard stories about you going to resign. I have full trust in you," Duterte told Duque in a televised briefing from Malacañang.

The Health chief, who also serves as the chairperson of the PhilHealth Board, opened up about his feelings about being implicated in the alleged illegal implementation of the state health insurer's interim reimbursement mechanism (IRM) or cash advances to health care institutions.

"'Yung mga pumirma, hindi naman sila ni-recommend for filing of the cases. 'Yung hindi pumirma, 'yun lang ang idinawit. Bakit naman ganon? Height of injustice, unfairness," Duque said.

"Masakit po 'yan sir, 'yung hindi ka nga pumirma, ikaw pa 'yung ipinipilit na idawit. 'Yun sir ang di ko lang matanggap sa dibdib ko. Hindi ako nakakatulog dahil dito, sir," he added.

In a tweet the following day, Duque said the President's expression of trust was motivating.

"I am overwhelmed. Our president’s continued trust and support inspires us to work even harder. I would also like to thank my DOH family and their profound dedication, working tirelessly in spite of the risks from the pandemic," Duque said.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, one of those who exposed the questionable IRM releases during the Senate hearings, said Duterte has "virtually cleared" Duque of any wrongdoing.

Despite Duterte's opinion on Duque, Lacson said he was hoping Secretary Menardo Guevarra would uphold the rule of law as the task force submits its report to Duterte by September 14. -NB, GMA News