SEN. Christopher Go, chairman of the Senate health committee, on Sunday said he will call — in due time — an investigation into lapses of the Department of Health in handling government’s fight against COVID-19, but reiterated this is not the time to change leadership in the health department as demanded by most senators.
Go also said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III must shape up now that President Duterte has rejected the senators’ call for his resignation.
Last week, 16 senators signed a resolution which seeks Duque’s immediate resignation for what they said was his gross incompetence. But President Duterte said Duque is staying in his post.
In an interview with radio dzBB, Go said, “Eye opener po ito sa lahat at better shape up po dahil buhay po ng bawa’t Filipino ang nakataya dito (This is an eye opener for everyone, so they better shape up because Filipinos’ lives are at stake here).”
With the fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) still far from over, Go said it is best that everyone throw their full support to the DOH. He said Duque has admitted his shortcomings and apologized, “and DOH can’t do it alone.”
The Senate resolution was filed on Thursday last week. The following day, Malacanang announced the resignation of Ernesto Pernia as socio-economic planning secretary. Duterte accepted the resignation.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, concurrent spokesman of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) said the Cabinet was surprised by Pernia’s resignation amid efforts of government to contain the spread of COVID-19 and cushion its impact especially on the economy.
“Actually, among us Cabinet secretaries, we were also asking each other what happened but none of us has the answer,” he said adding he finds one of Pernia’s reasons “cryptic.”
Pernia has proposed a “modified lockdown” which includes the reopening of some selected shops that sell basic needs and the easing of restrictions on transportation.
The Luzon-wide lockdown is part of efforts to contain the COVID spread.The extended lockdown will last until April 30.
Pernia on Saturday told CNN Philippines he resigned because of differences with government officials involved in making policies to shore up the economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and poor orchestration within the government.
“When the orchestra is not well orchestrated, then you have a little problem,” Pernia said in the CNN interview. “Since I seem to be a dissonant voice among others, I thought I should just quit.”
Pernia said among his proposals was to continue with “some critical infrastructure projects, like the maintenance of the MRT” but the IATF-EID rejected it.
He also said he filed his resignation on April 13, or five days efore Malacañang announced it. — With Jocelyn Montemayor
