Duterte defends Duque again: he did not steal money

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte once again defended Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, saying the latter did not steal money.

“Yung Congress knew i-suspend yes Duque, I said ‘What for?’ … On what basis would I base my decision? [on]? “Duterte said in a public speech broadcast Monday.

(Congress wants me to suspend Duque. I said ‘Why?’ … On what basis would I base my decision?

“Would I simply obey the million-dollar cry against my assessment that Duque did not steal if the conversation was about money … maybe some other things, it could be [in] some other things. But corruption, pear? Wala, ”he added.

(Would he simply obey the million-dollar cry against my assessment of Duke who stole nothing when it comes to money … maybe some other things, he could be into other things. But corruption, money?

Duque’s name has been dragged into the funding mess involving Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

The Senate Committee of the Whole previously recommended the filing of embezzlement and graft charges against the health secretary and several others for the allegedly questionable release of funds from PhilHealth through the agency’s Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM).

The health secretary, who serves as ex-officio chairman of the PhilHealth board, has previously dismissed the Senate panel’s findings as “unfounded.”

Duque said he was involved with the distribution of IRM funds when “he was not even part of the deliberation and did not sign the aforementioned resolution” authorizing it.

In addition to the criminal charges, the Senate panel also asked Duterte to replace Duque and appoint a new health secretary “who has a stronger will to fight corruption.”

But Duterte has repeatedly expressed his continued confidence in Duque.

JPV

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