Duque seeks meeting with Arroyo allies amid gov’t contract controversy, says Lacson

MANILA, Philippines — Beleaguered Health Secretary  Francisco Duque III has called for meetings with allies of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the House of Representatives amid the controversy sparked by deals allegedly bagged by the Duque family-owned firms with the government.

Senator Panfilo Lacson made this new revelation on Thursday,  citing information that he received from some members of the lower chamber.

“Ang information ko,  nakikiusap sya (Duque) sa  mga kaalyado ng dating Pangulong Arroyo na  magkaroon ng pagpupulong sa mga kongresista .  Kung bakit, hindi  ko alam,” Lacson said at a regular Kapihan sa Senado.

“Kakausapin nya yung Visayan  bloc, kakausapin yung mga dating kaalyado dahil ito yung dating kaalyado nya rin  dahil dati naman syang  meyembro ng Gabinete ni President Arroyo,”  he said.
Duque also served as health secretary during the  Arroyo administration.

Pressed to elaborate on why Duque wanted to meet with Arroyo allies,  he said: “Hindi ko alam. Basta ang dumating na info ay humingi sya ng tulong sa ilang members ng House na kaalyado ng dating pangulong Arroyo.”

Duque also served as health secretary during the  Arroyo administration.

“But you know again, this is between him and his conscience. It’s between him and the public,”  Lacson went on.

Lacson has accused Duque of conflict of interest after revealing that the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth)   is renting a building owned by Duque’s family in Dagupan City.

In a privilege speech last Monday,  Lacson also bared that another firm owned by the Duque family – Doctors Pharmaceuticals Inc. (DPI), bagged two contracts with the DOH, which lasted even after he was already  appointed  at the agency’s helm  in October, 2017.

READ: Lacson: Officials stealing health funds deserve ‘super special suite in hell’

 But Arroyo’s allies  were not the only ones being reportedly contacted by the health chief.

Even before his privilege speech, Lacson claimed that  Duque had been contacting common friends to possibly set a meeting with him.

“Many times,” he said when asked if Duque made any efforts  to talk to him.

“Marami syang  kinontak na mga kaibigan nya, kaibigan ko.  Pero ang sa akin lang, anong pag uusapan namin, kasi he got wind of the information that I was about to deliver a privilege speech.”

“But now that I already delivered, nagpasabi na rin ako sa kanya na OK lang, di mag usap kami  at kung ano  yung gusto nyan ipaliwanag,”   said the senator.

Lacson, however, noted that   Duque had nothing to explain to him,  but to the public. /gsg