Duque says DOH's transfer of funds to agencies documented

Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Friday said the questioned transfer of funds to partner agencies have memorandum of agreements and other documents as he clarified an audit report.

Interviewed on GMA News’ "Unang Balita," Duque said the department  should only have to organize and complete these documents.

“Lahat ng (all) memorandum of agreements, donations, supply contract, delivery receipts, schedule of payments, lahat yan, meron lahat yan” (we have all of that), he said.

Duque made the statement when asked about the 2020 report of the Commission on Audit (COA) that showed "several deficiencies" in DOH’s use of P67.32 billion in COVID-19 response funds.

The amount in question involves P42.41 billion which, COA said, was transferred to procurement or implementing partner agencies without a memorandum of agreement and other supporting documents.

In its annual report, COA said the deficiencies were mainly caused by non-compliance with laws, rules, and regulations in the transfer of funds.

Duque pointed out that COA is giving the department 60 days to give time for the collation of these documentary evidence.

Renewed calls for resignation

COA's flagging of deficiencies in the use of P67.32-billion COVID-19 response funds, rekindled calls for Duque to step down.

On Thursday, some Members of the Makabayan bloc have called that Duque should step down from his post amid the supposed corruption within the agency and for blatant negligence of duty.

In 2020, some senators had called for Duque's resignation for leadership failure.

In response, Duque on Thursday said his track record would show his good service in the government.

In an earlier interview with GMA News Online he said: "Alam mo ang nag-appoint sa akin si Pangulong Duterte, inanyayahan niya ako andoon ako sa aking lalawigan, nanahimik at inanyayahan ako na tumulong sa kanyang administrasyon."

[President Duterte had appointed me. I was in the comfort of my home province when he asked me to serve under his administration.]

"'Yung track record ko eh huwag naman sanang kalimutan, nanilbihan naman tayo nang maayos" [I hope my track record will be remembered. I have served well]," he added. —LBG, GMA News