Duterte again defends Duque from alleged corruption

Amid recurring allegations of corruption against Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, President Rodrigo Duterte again defended the Cabinet official from accusations.

In a public address aired on Tuesday morning, Duterte pointed out that he cannot find any reason to oust or suspend Duque from his post.

“Mind you, Secretary Duque was not a part of PhilHealth. As a matter of fact, he was not even reporting. That’s why ‘yung Kongreso sabi niya i-suspend or oust si Duque, I said, for what?” Duterte said.

"What ground would I base my decision? Would I just obey the cry of 1 million as against my assessment na si Duque walang nanakaw kung pera ang pag-uusapan?” he added.

Anakalusugan party-list Representative Mike Defensor earlier said the House Committee on Public Accounts recommended the filing of charges against Duque and former PhilHealth president Ricardo Morales.

The House panel’s report covered the alleged anomalies in the state health insurer.

Aside from the issue in PhilHealth, Duque was also linked to DOH’s alleged overpriced procurement of COVID-19 testing tools.

Duterte also defended Duque from these claims, and told senators to wait for the official report on the bidding for the medical equipment used by the government against COVID-19.

“He might be some other things but corruption, pera, wala. Kaya wala kayong makuha sa akin. Lahat puro milyonaryo ‘yan” Duterte said. —KG, GMA News