‘Don’t shoot the messenger’: Senators call out Duque’s ‘winarak’ rant vs COA

MANILA, Philippines —  Some senators called out Health Secretary Francisco Duque III’s emotional rant accusing the Commission on Audit (COA) of “destroying” the Department of Health (DOH) after state auditors flagged “deficiencies” in the agency’s use COVID-19 funds.

“Sorry, Sec. Duque, I do not agree with your statement na winarak kayo. Ginawa ng COA ang tungkulin nila at kayo ay may pagkakataon na sumagot at ayusin yung mga gusot na nakita sa inyo,” Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee, said.

(Sorry, Sec. Duque, I do not agree with your statement that you were destroyed. The COA only did its job and you have the opportunity to iron out the issues they raised.)

The blue ribbon panel is conducting an inquiry into the DOH’s utilization of its pandemic budget.

“Hindi natin dapat sunugin yung messenger ng COA. I know merong 30 to 60 days para magawan ng paraan yung mga discrepancies ng DOH. Kaya hindi tayo dapat nagwawala na ‘winarak’ sila,” he added.

(We should not shoot the messenger of COA. I know there are 30 to 60 days to address the discrepancies of DOH. That’s why we should not throw a fit of rage and say the report ‘destroyed’ them.)

Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros said the COA’s findings are a matter of holding agencies accountable.

“Lahat po tayo dito ay halos wala nang tulog. Hindi ito pa-contest ng kung sinong ahensya ang may mas maraming ginagawa at kung sino ang pinakapagod at nakakaawa. Ito ay usapin ng pananagutan; ng pagtupad sa mga pangako; at pag-gawa ng mga tungkulin ayon sa nakasaad sa batas,” Hontiveros said.

(All of us here are losing sleep. This is not a contest on which agency is doing the most, which agency is the most tired or pitiful. This is a matter of accountability: of making sure we make good on our promises; and to do our job in accordance with the law.)

“Kung may nawarak man ngayong panahon ng pandemya, ang nawarak ay ang kabuhayan at kinabukasan ng milyon-milyong ordinaryong mamamayan,” she added.

(If there is something that was destroyed amid the pandemic, it is the livelihood and the future of millions of ordinary Filipinos.)

On Tuesday, Duque faced a similar House inquiry, where he turned emotional as he ranted against COA.

Duque had said COA’s audit report “damaged” the “dignity” of the DOH and caused some personnel, including himself, to lose sleep due to “shame.”

Healthcare workers’ plight

Gordon, meanwhile, said Wednesday’s investigation will focus on the alleged delayed provision of benefits to healthcare workers.

“We are calling this hearing because this is a very serious matter and we cannot just turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to this issue. Some of our health workers are not getting the right benefits and this problem has become so grave that they now mull mass resignation over lack of benefits,” he said.

“Not only are our health workers getting sick and dying of COVID-19; they are also demoralized” he added.