The Department of Health yesterday expressed support for Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, saying there’s no need yet for him to take a leave of absence amid the Ombudsman’s investigation on the DoH’s alleged irregularities in handling the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Hindi pa natin nakikita ‘yung pangangailangan para mag-leave si Secretary Duque para dito sa sinasabing imbestigasyon na isasagawa ng Ombudsman,” said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.
Vergeire said that they have not yet received a “formal communication” from the Ombudsman with regards to the investigation.
“We are now preparing para dito sa imbestigasyon kung saka-sakali. Bukas din ang tanggapan namin kung sakaling meron ngang ganitong imbestigasyon,” she said.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian last Thursday said that Duque should consider taking a leave of absence while the Ombudsman is conducting the investigation.
Vergeire, DoH spokesperson, said they fully support Duque as their chief.
“We give our full support to the Secretary and we still think that he should be retained dito sa kaniyang posisyon,” said Vergeire.
She added that DoH officials need the guidance of Duque amid the health crisis.
“Sana naiintidihan po ng mga tao kaya po nakakayanan ng mga undersecretaries ang aming trabaho dahil meron po kaming leader na katulad ni Secretary Duque,” she added.
“Napaka-importante po ng isang leader sa isang organisasyon. Kahit po nakaupo lang siya diyan pero kung siya ay nirerespeto at siya ay nakakapagbigay ng kumpinyansa para sa mga tauhan niya, sa tingin ko po gumagaling ang mga tao sa ilalim niya,” she added. (Analou de Vera)
