Ben&Ben’s Paolo Guico expressed his disapproval of Secretary Francisco Duque when the latter disowned his own staff by putting the blame on them during a briefing of the Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19 with President Rodrigo Duterte.
In his Twitter post, he called on Duque to resign since the country needs a more effective leader in the DOH. In spite of the numerous chances that Duque was given, he has continuously failed to deliver.
Duque, please resign. Wag mong isisi ang iyong kapalpakan sa mga taong nagbubuwis-buhay para sa bayan. The country badly needs strong leadership in the DOH.
After countless chances we've given you, it's crystal clear with the numbers and facts: you have failed us. Please resign.
— Paolo Benjamin (@PaoloBenjamin_) June 5, 2020
He also added that respect begets respect and Duque, when given all the respect and trust in handling the crisis, was not able to succeed. Worse yet, he blames others for his shortcomings.
di rin pwedeng sabihing di binigyan ng respeto ang liderato mo. binigyan ka ng lahat ng respeto dahil pinagkatiwalaan ka eh. sa pag-lead ng DOH sa gitna ng COVID-19 crisis.
pero binigo mo yun. numbers don't lie.ngayon kami naman ang bigyan mo ng respeto.respectfully resign, sir.
— Paolo Benjamin (@PaoloBenjamin_) June 5, 2020
Sen. Panfilo Lacson, as well insisted that Duque should “just go” after putting fault at his subordinates for the delay in paying compensation to health workers. Lacson stated that Duque has had enough failures in handling the fight against the COVID-19.
“His inadequacies and neglect on those who have not received compensation allowances by claiming that some of them have 2 wives.
“Goodness gracious! Mr. Secretary, they are no longer around to defend or explain themselves.
“Just go”, he added
Duque belatedly said that he is also in fault and that it is still his responsibility to make the department compliant.
While I expressed disappointment towards some members of my team, I acknowledge that this is still my responsibility as SOH. I will make sure that we comply with the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act, with proper documentation and identification of HCWs.
— Francisco T. Duque III (@SecDuque) June 5, 2020
But despite making himself accountable over the delayed compensation. Other netizens still think that Duque should resign for his incompetence.
https://twitter.com/TheRainBro/status/1268746442568396800?s=20
All the more reason to demand for his resignation.#DuqueResign https://t.co/5WKOj7asYz
— doc gene (@genenisperos) June 5, 2020
https://twitter.com/jcpunongbayan/status/1268788413978689537?s=20
Feb 4, Duque blames Bureau of Epidemiology on slow contact tracing, “We need to assess (the epidemiology bureau) for their competencies for that particular job.”
Now, he blames his staff for delay in release of health workers' benefits.
The buck stops with you!#DuqueResign https://t.co/eDuFNaP2uA
— Dan Santos (@DanSantos8) June 5, 2020
Lacson together with 13 other senators already previously called for Duque’s resignation due to his failure of leadership and inefficiency in performing his mandate during the crisis, however, Duterte rejected the call.
The meeting of the IATF on COVID-19 with President Rodrigo Duterte was aired on June 5. And during the briefing Secretary Francisco Duque III blamed his staff in the Department of Health (DOH) for the delay in the processing of the mandated benefits of medical workers who succumbed in the line of duty.
Under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, it stated that healthcare workers who have been severely infected with COVID-19 in line of duty will receive P100,000 while the families of those who died while fighting in the pandemic will have their family be compensated with P1 million.
