Natanggap na ng Senate Legislative Bills and Index Service ang resolusyon ng 15 senador na nananawagan ng tuluyang pagpapa-resign kay Health Sec. Francisco Duque III.
Sa harap ito ng matinding problemang kinakaharap ng bansa sa isang health crisis dahil sa COVID-19.
Bandang alas-11:49 ng umaga nang makarating sa tanggapan ng bills and index ang resolusyon.
Isa sa mga dating COVID patient na si Sen. Sonny Angara ang nagpahayag ng kawalan ng tiwala sa kalihim ng DoH sa paghawak ng kasalukuyang sitwasyon.
Ayon kay Angara, kulang at atrasado na ang hakbang ng kagawaran para sa contact tracing, pagprotekta sa frontliners at iba pa.
“…Senators signed/filed and I am one of them. Whether he is removed or not, status quo cannot continue if we want to defeat the virus. Kelangan mas bibo ang liderato dito laban sa virus. We were late for testing, contact tracing is almost non existent, hospitals short of protective gear— we need to be better. Buhay ng mga Pilipino ang nakasalalay dito,” wika ni Angara.
Kabilang sa mga lumagda sa resolusyon sina Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senators Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, Grace Poe, Joel Villanueva, Francis Tolentino, Imee Marcos, Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, Bong Revilla, Lito Lapid, Win Gatchalian, Manny Pacquiao at Panfilo Lacson.
“The issues raised by the senators against Secretary Duque as stated in Senate Resolution 362 have commonalities as they are glaring and have bearing on the country surviving COVID-19. We all agreed not to recommend any replacement. In case Sec. Duque quits, it is all up to the President being the appointing authority. We are simply for a competent Secretary of Health. Take note: not more competent, but simply a competent one at the helm. Having said that, the resolution does not involve the President. It is virtually an appeal – demand, if you will, to Sec. Duque to resign and the reasons are stated in the resolution. It is his call,” pahayag naman ni Lacson.
