Duque no Palace scapegoat
The opposition and critics have repeatedly called on Mr. Duterte to sack Duque
For the nth time, Malacañang stood by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III amid criticisms that the senior Cabinet official represents the failure of the government’s fight against the coronavirus disease.
Jailed opposition Senator Leila de Lima, in a media statement, accused President Rodrigo Duterte of using the Department of Health (DoH) chief as “scapegoat” over the way the national government is handling the health crisis.
The opposition and critics have repeatedly called on Mr. Duterte to sack Duque.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the President has remained supportive of Duque despite past mistakes, including wrong analyses of the COVID-19 situation, because they were “done in good faith and “it’s no reason for him to lose confidence.”
“I read the same papers and I watch the same news as Senator Leila de Lima. I can tell you, the President has not been treating Secretary Duque as a whipping boy,” Roque said.
“The President said mistakes have been made. For as long as these mistakes were done in good faith, then it’s no reason for him to lose confidence. So let’s leave it at that.”
De Lima said Duque can’t be fired because the administration needs a scapegoat.
“My guess is the President just needs a whipping boy for the tragedy that they themselves have brought to our nation,” De Lima’s statement read.
Duque is also being investigated by the Ombudsman over alleged corruption in the DoH.
In a previous public address, President Duterte vouched for Duque’s integrity and will “stake his reputation.”
President Duterte knows Duque comes from a wealthy family and there is no reason for the Secretary to steal, Roque said.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the President has remained supportive of Duque despite past mistakes, including wrong analyses of the COVID-19 situation, because they were done in good faith and it’s no reason for him to lose confidence.
“The Duque family is very wealthy, owns a school, university and various other businesses in Dagupan and that the Duques don’t have to steal from government because they are already affluent,” he added.