After expressing his confident support of the Department of Health (DOH), President Rodrigo Duterte had instructed his officials to keep an eye on the DOH’s procurements due to recent allegations of overpricing, according to Senator Panfilo Lacson on Saturday.
Lacson quoted Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque who shared that the President was concerned about the issue.
“Nabahala nga ang Presidente at sabi sa kanya, bantayan niyo ang procurement ng DOH,” Lacson said.
The allegation was about an “overpricing” pattern with the DOH’s purchases of medical equipment and supplies compared to purchases made by the private sector to help fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection.
“Nag-procure sila ng sariling PPEs, ang bili nila P1,079. Nang check namin sa DOH, ang bili nila P1,979 so doble na naman. Bakit ganoon? May pattern,” Lacson said.
He also expressed the Senate’s disappointment with Health Secretary Francisco Duque III’s poor performance, after the senators filed a resolution calling for his immediate resignation due to “inefficiency” in handling the pandemic.
“Honestly lalo kaming nadismaya, lalo kaming na-disappoint. Parang walang effort man lang. Ang tawag doon, hubris,” Lacson said, days after Duque’s “second wave” blooper.
President Duterte, on the other hand, refused to fire Duque and countered the resolution by expressing his support and trust of the Health Secretary.
“Kasi di siya tinanggal, maski anong panawagan ninyo, maski anong palpak ko, mahal ako ng Pangulo, hindi ako tatanggalin. Di ba tawag doon hubris? Sobrang self-confidence, apektado ang efficiency mo,” Lacson said.
“Regardless na kung incompetent ako, matuyo kayo lahat diyan, pero hindi niya naiisip ilan sa kababayan natin ang maapektuhan. Huwag na sarili niya, huwag na relasyon niya sa Pangulo, ilan ang napapahamak,” Lacson added. (RJ Espartinez)