Quimbo says Duque should reflect if he's still effective as DOH chief

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III should reflect if he is still an effective chief of the Department of Health (DOH) amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Marikina City Representative Stella Quimbo said on Monday. 

In a television interview, Quimbo said it would be better to ask President Rodrigo Duterte if he still has confidence in Duque amid the issues he has faced in this health crisis. 

The lawmaker, however, said Duque should still think if he is still able to do his obligations as DOH secretary."To Secretary Duque, do you feel that you continue to be effective in your position? Kasi ako on a personal note, when it reached a point na I cease to be effective, it's time to go," Quimbo told ANC.

"So it's a question for him to reflect on. Do you feel like you continue to be effective?" she added. 

This came after the Commission on Audit (COA) had flagged the DOH over the deficiencies in the use of P67.32 billion in COVID-19 funds. 

Due to this, calls were made for Duque to resign from his post. 

GMA News Online has contacted Duque for comment but has yet to receive a reply as of posting time.

The Health chief, however, earlier said the public should not forget his track record in serving the government. He believes that Duterte chose him to lead the agency because of his prior experiences in serving the government.

He also said it would be up to the Chief Executive to decide if he needs to quit from his post.

This is not the first time that calls were made for Duque to resign as DOH Secretary. 

Duque was urged to resign amid the rising COVID-19 infections as well as the alleged corruption hounding the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), wherein he is an ex-officio chairman.

Despite all these, the President had been firm in saying that Duque should not quit from his post, saying that he has full trust in him. —With a report from Julia Mari Ornedo/KG, GMA News