Duterte: Give me a reason to fire Duque

President Rodrigo Duterte wanted administration critics to enumerate reasons for him to fire Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, saying it would be a “great injustice” if he will kick him out of the Cabinet.

“Kawawa naman ‘yung mama. Gusto nila, do you want me to fire Duque? Gusto mo paalisin ko? Give me a reason bakit ko paalisin,” Duterte said in a taped address aired Saturday morning.

(I feel sorry for him. They want, do you want me to fire Duque? You want me to fire him? Give me a reason why I should kick him out.)

At one point during the briefing, the President said he will stand with Duque even if it will drag his name down.

“Anong gagawin ko? Sabi nila against all. Okay. Ako, maski buong Pilipinas plus kayo, ako minus, mag-isa ako, I can go down but with my values and principles intact. Prinsipyo 'yan e. Wala si Duque. He’s not even a campaigner. He was not even there during the elections na sumasama but fairness is kailangan,” he said.

(What am I going to do? They said I’m going against all of them. Even if I go against the entire Philippines, I can go down with my values and principles. Duque is not even a campaigner. He was not even there during the elections but we need fairness.)

“I’m sorry but I said, maski mag-isa na lang ako, I will stand for Duque even if it will bring me down,” he added.

(I’m sorry but I said, even if I go alone, I will stand for Duque even if it will bring me down.)

He said he will stand with his values regardless of the consequences on his ratings.

“Sabi pagkatapos nito, hindi na popular si Duterte, 'yung rating rating niya. Look, tapos na ako. The rating does not really matter to me. Ang gusto ko lang magtrabaho nang matino and whatever judgment you have for me, I don’t give a shit basta ako I will stand by my values,” he said.

(They said after this, Duterte will no longer be popular. Look, I am almost done. The rating does not really matter to me. I just want to work properly and whatever judgment you have for me, I don’t give a shit. I will stand by my values.)

Moreover, Duterte said Duque’s shortcomings are on him as he was the one who asked the Health chief to join his Cabinet.

“Hindi naman ‘yan nag-apply, nakiusap. Hindi nakiusap na 'Kunin mo ako.' Ako ang kumuha so anong pagkakamali niya? Sa akin ‘yan,” he said.

(He did not apply or beg [for the post]. He did not ask, 'Hire me.' I was the one who hired him so what is his fault? That is mine.)

“You want to oust him for what? Ano ba ang nagawa niyang kasaaman? May dalawang asawa siya? Wala tayong pakialama niyan, dagdagan mo pang isa, secretary, para tatlo,” he added.

(What are his faults? He has two wives? We don't care even if he adds one more, a secretary, to make it three.)

He said firing his men should involve issues of corruption or dereliction of duty.

The President then said he would be doing a “great injustice” if he will fire Duque amid the issue of the “deficiencies” on the Department of Health’s use of multi-billion COVID-19 funds in 2020.

“I could be doing a great injustice. Alam mo kung bakit? Ako ang kumuha [sa kaniya] and he is performing. 'Pag pinaalis ko 'yan si Duque, lifetime sabihin diyan, 'Alam mo pinaalis ‘yan kasi may corruption sa ano.' Just imagine the injustice that you inflict on your fellow human being,” the President said.

(You know why? I was the one who hired him and he is performing. If I fire Duque, lifetime, people will say, 'You know what, he was fired because there was corruption.)

“Hindi ako ganoon kung mag-perform ka. Ngayon kung magnakaw ka diyan puwede pa kita ipapatay para tapos ang problema ko. Tapos niyan, pakulong ako. Okay lang 'yan,” he added.

(I'm not like that if you are performing. Now if you steal, I can have you killed so my problem will be over. After that, I will be jailed. That is okay.) —KG, GMA News