Ombudsman probes Duque, DoH execs
OMBUDSMAN Samuel Martires has created two teams to investigate alleged irregularities and anomalies committed BY oFficials of the Department of Health (DoH) led by Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd in connection with the agency’s response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
Martires ordered the creation of the probe panels after evaluating initial reports and upon the recommendation of Assistant Ombudsmen Caesar Asuncion, Joselito Fangon and Jose Balmeo Jr.
In March, the Ombudsman also created a team to investigate the purchase of 100,000 test kits by the DoH.
“I directed the creation of two more investigating teams who will jointly investigate alleged irregularities and anomalies committed by DoH officials and employees, including Health Secretary Francisco Duque [3rd], in relation to the response of the DoH during this pandemic,” Martires said.
The investigation will focus on the supposed “delayed” procurement of personal protective equipment and other medical gear necessary for the protection of healthcare workers. The investigators will also look into the alleged lapses and irregularities that led to the death of medical workers
and the rising number of deaths and infected medical frontliners, and the supposed “inaction in the release and processing of benefits and financial assistance of ‘fallen’ and infected medical frontliners.”
They will also investigate the “confusing and delayed reporting of Covid-related deaths and confirmed cases.”
Martires said investigators began their inquiry in March, but they were “given a runaround by some DoH officials and personnel by referring us from one department or office to another.”
This prompted him to authorize the joint investigation team to file a criminal and/or administrative case against “any official or employee who fails or refuses to comply with the legal processes/ orders/ requests of the Joint Investigating Team” or against any official or employee who willfully obstructs or hinders the conduct of the investigation or misleads or attempts to mislead the Office of the Ombudsman.
Malacañang on Wednesday said it would let the legal process run its course.
“We respect the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) to probe Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd and other health officials over the alleged irregularities in the Covid-19 response,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said.
“The Ombudsman, as we all know, is an independent constitutional body; thus, we will let the process run its course as we enjoin Secretary Duque and the entire DoH bureaucracy to cooperate with the investigation and respect the orders of the OMB,” he added.
The Health department said it would cooperate with the Ombudsman.
“Sinisiguropong DoH naito aymakikipagtulungansaopisina ngtanggapanngTanodbayanng Pilipinas…Kamipoaymalugod ponasusunodsakanilangmga direktiba (The DoH will cooperate with the Office of the Ombudsman and will follow in their directives),” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.
She added the DoH had been transparent in its response to the health crisis, including its procurement transactions and the provision of benefits to healthcare workers.
It said all compensation checks to the relatives of 32 healthcare workers who died and the 19 severe Covid-19 patients who have recovered on June 9 had been released.
The department said it had regularly reported cases and deaths through press briefings.
“Atinpongpagpupursigihanna lahatngdatosnaamingnakakalap atinilalabasaytamaat verified at magagamitlanghindilangng atingpubliko,patingatingmga officials sapagdedesisyonsaating national response against Covid-19 (We will strive that all data that we gather is correct and verified and would not only be used by the public, but by our officials in their decision-making on our Covid-19 response),” Vergeire said.
As of Wednesday, 457 new cases of Covid-19 were reported by the DoH, bringing the total to 27,238.
The DoH said 268 more patients have recovered from the coronavirus disease, bringing the overall recoveries to 6,820, while five deaths were added to the death toll, which now stands at 1,108.