Indignant senators have called on the resignation of Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco T. Duque III for his failure to address the new coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic that already infected more than 5,000 Filipinos.
The senators have issued a resolution calling for DOH Sec. Duque to step down. Duque was appointed as DOH Secretary on October 2017 and was confirmed by the Commission on Appointments on February 9, 2018.
The resolution called “for the immediate resignation of Secretary T. Duque III for his failure of leadership, negligence, lack of foresight, and inefficiency in the performance of his mandate as the Secretary of the Department of Health resulting in poor planning, delayed response, lack of transparency, and misguided and flip-flopping policies and measures in addressing the Covid-19 pandemic that endangered and continue to endanger the lives of our healthcare professionals, other frontliners, and the Filipino people.”
It further stated the “DOH holds overall technical authority on health as it is a national health policymaker and regulatory institution and as such, the Secretary of Health’s opinions and recommendations on health matters carry great weight and authority.”
The resolution was approved by Senators Vicente Sotto, Ralph Recto, Miguel Zubiri, Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, Grace Poe, Manny Pacquiao, Sherwin Gatchalian, Francis Tolentino, Joel Villanueva, Ronald Dela Rosa, Imee Marcos, Lito Lapid, Ramon Revilla Jr., and Panfilo Lacson.
Zubiri and Senator Koko Pimentel have contracted the Covid-19 while other lawmakers such as Angara and Revilla have undergone a 14-day self quarantine.