Lacson presses Duque to quit out of ‘delicadeza’

MANILA, Philippines—  Health  Secretary Francisco Duque III should just quit his post out of “delicadeza,” (sense of being proper)  Senator Panfilo Lacson said on Wednesday.

While he and 13 senators have already called for Duque’s resignation, Lacson recognized they could not force  President Rodrigo Duterte to fire his health chief.

“Parang utang na loob, mag resign  ka na lang dyan kasi hindi ka matanggal ng Presidente baka nahihiya sa’yo,” the senator said in an interview   over Teleradyo.

Lacson mentioned Duque  while being asked about  some officials  of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. being implicated in the alleged widespread corruption within the agency,

“E ayaw nila e. At the pleasure of the President. E di ganun din isasagot ng mga board member, ganun din sasagot ni General Morales. I serve at the pleasure of the President. Well,  you serve at the pleasure of the President, but you’re serving the Filipino people,”  he went on.

Morales is Philhealth president and chief executive officer Ricardo Morales, who is now also being dragged into this latest controversy.

However, calls for Duque’s resignation fell on deaf ears as Duterte even defended his health chief from criticisms.

Lacson surmised the President has a reason for keeping Duque.

“Alam mo kung hindi ka tinatanggal ng Presidente, huwag kang mag rely dun na hindi ka tinatanggal. May dahilan yun bakit hindi ka tinatanggal,” he said.

“Pero dahil nga sa dami ng panawagan e dapat medyo delicadeza naman. Parang yung propriety  dictates, wala na bang natira sa kanyang ganun na kapit pa rin  sya dyan e ang dami nyang palpak…” the senator further said.

/MUF