Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (File photo by GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Thursday refused to dwell on calls for his resignation amid the coronavirus outbreak, saying that he will answer them in “due time”.
Duque issued the statement after at least 14 senators signed a resolution calling for his resignation due to the “failure of leadership” in addressing the COVID-19 crisis.
For now, Duque said that he will continue to serve the Philippines to the best of his abilities as the country grapples with the virus.
“We will answer these allegations in due time, but right now, we will continue to be in the trenches with our health care workers and frontliners,” Duque said.
“Let us work as a team, as one country fighting for the health and safety of all. I will continue to serve the country to the best of my abilities. Magtulungan po tayo,” he added.
According to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, President Rodrigo Duterte rejected the call for Duque’s resignation.
“The President has made a decision for Health Secretary Duque to stay put. He also expressed his appreciation for the Senators’ gesture in giving him the opportunity to weigh his options on the performance of his SOH (Secretary of Health),” Medialdea told reporters in a text message.
The beleaguered health chief said that the agency is making sure that the country “have a fighting chance against COVID-19” despite all the challenges and limited resources.
“This is not a fight of one man or of one agency, it is a fight for all of us Filipinos,” Duque pointed out.
On Thursday afternoon, the Department of Health reported 207 new cases of the respiratory disease, bringing the country’s total to 5,660, including 362 deaths and 435 recoveries.