Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 21) — Amid issues hounding the Department of Health, President Rodrigo Duterte said he will stand by embattled Health Secretary Francisco Duque even if it leads to his own downfall.
“Maski mag-isa nalang ako (Even if I am the only one left), I will stand for Duque even if it will bring me down,” Duterte said in a recorded address that aired on Saturday.
“Sabi na pagkatapos nito, hindi na popular si Duterte, yung rating rating niyo. Look, tapos na ako. The rating does not really matter to me. Ang gusto ko lang magtrabaho nang matino, and whatever judgment you have for me, I don’t give a shit,” Duterte added.
[Translation: Some said, after this, Duterte would not be popular anymore based on ratings. Look, I am done. The rating does not really matter to me. I just want to work decently, and whatever judgment you have for me, I don’t give a shit.]
Congress is conducting an inquiry on the audit report that flagged deficiencies in the agency’s use of over P67 billion in pandemic response funds.
A number of lawmakers, some even crossing party lines, have repeatedly asked Duque to resign. Health care workers have called for the same, with Filipino Nurses United citing Duque’s “incompetence” and “shortcomings” in dealing with the pandemic as their basis. COVID-19 has so far killed 31,198 in the country, according to DOH data.
Duque has offered to resign in the past, but Duterte told him to stay because he “did nothing wrong.”
Now, he even said he is taking responsibility for Duque’s perceived mistakes.
“Kawawa naman yung mama. You want me to fire Secretary Duque. Give me a reason bakit ko paalisin…Hindi naman iyan nag-apply, hindi naman nakiusap na kunin mo ako. Ako ang kumuha.”
[Translation: What a pitiful man. You want me to fire Secretary Duque. Give me a reason to remove him. He neither applied nor asked me for his current position. I appointed him.]
He added: “So kung ano ang pagkakamali niya, sa akin iyan.”
[Translation: Whatever his mistakes were, that is on me.]
Duque has been criticized a number of times since the unprecedented health crisis last year. Among these is the delayed travel ban during the initial stage of the pandemic.
