President Duterte threatened to fire officials behind the delay of the release of the financial assistance intended for the family of medical frontliners who succumbed to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and to those who were infected while in the line of duty.
Duterte made the statement after he gave the Department of Health (DoH) and other agencies involved in the matter until June 9 to pay the beneficiaries.
In his public address aired on Friday morning, the President said he was willing to sacrifice those behind the delay in the release of the death and sick benefits of the affected health workers and their families.
“We have to move fast. And if we have to move fast, I will sacrifice you even if you are not really a laggard,” he said.
“When I give an order for something to be done hindi ako nagbibilang ng araw — ah buwan — nagbibilang lang ako ng araw,” he added.
“Now if you want it done in a hurry, the power to appoint carries with it a power to dismiss. And since it’s an absolute thing for lack of — total lack — total loss of confidence, I’m removing them because they are not functioning,” he continued.
Duterte also said taxpayers’ money is wasted on these officials who appeared to be not willing to serve the people.
“So we are wasting money paying for these idiots. Kalalaki pa naman ng mga allowances, mga suweldo niyan,” he said.
“There are so many well-intentioned and well-meaning Filipinos, doctors and all, who would want to serve government to contribute to humanity. And we do not have to suffer itong mga ‘to (because of these people),” he added.
The President likewise defended Health Secretary Francisco Duque III in the mess, saying the latter cannot do everything on his own.
“I understand your problem and I know that you have a hard time because of — ‘yung ano there’s the due process,” Duterte said.
“That’s why it’s called ‘you cannot run your own errands’. Somebody has to do it for you because you cannot really do it beyond human comprehension,” he added.
The Bayanihan To Heal As One Act states that private and public health workers who caught the virus will receive P100,000 while the family of those who died of COVID-19 will get P1 million.
Duterte then authorized Duque to form a new team, whether they are from the DoH or not, that will focus solely on the compensation of health workers. (Argyll Geducos)
