Duterte tells OCTA fellow he can replace Duque

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday asked OCTA Research Fellow Fr. Nicanor Austriaco if he was open to replace Health Secretary Francisco Duque III as the new health chief.

"I would be happy to appoint you as a Secretary of Health if that is okay with you," Duterte said in his Talk to the People after Austriaco made a presentation on the Omicron variant.

In response, Austriaco politely turned down the offer.

"No po. Secretary Duque is doing a fine job po. He is a Thomasian po," Austriaco said.

Duterte again pressed Austriaco on his offer to become the next Health secretary.

"He (Duque) has shown a desire to really rest after all this ruckus against him. I've been forcing him  (Duque) to stay but he would be happy to give way to you," Duterte quipped.

Duque then chimed in, "Yes. Mr. President. To another Thomasian."

Austriaco, a Dominican priest and molecular biologist, is also part of the team developing the country's first Filipino-made COVID-19 vaccine.—LDF, GMA News