DOH chief Duque still enjoys Duterte trust, despite P67-billion flagged funds: Palace

Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Health Secretary Francisco Duque III gives an update to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City on August 16, 2021. Joey Dalumpines, Presidential Photo" src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/08/17/20210816-duterte-monday-iatf-ho-16.jpg"/><figcaption>Health Secretary Francisco Duque III gives an update to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City on August 16, 2021. <em>Joey Dalumpines, Presidential Photo</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, whose agency faces questions on its management of some P67 billion in COVID-19 funds, continues to enjoy the &quot;full trust and confidence&quot; of President Rodrigo Duterte, Malacañang said on Tuesday. <br/> <br/>&quot;All Cabinet members serve at the pleasure of the President,&quot; said Palace spokesman Harry Roque. </p><p>&quot;And Secretary Duque, according to the President last night, continues to have his full trust and confidence,&quot; he said in a press briefing.</p><p>The Commission on Audit flagged &quot;deficiencies&quot; in the use of funds that led to &quot;missed opportunities&quot; to fight the pandemic. Auditors said some of the agency&#x27;s purchases lacked documentation, had &quot;doubtful&quot; liquidations, had no legal basis, and other deficiencies.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/11/21/coa-spots-deficiencies-in-handling-of-p67-b-covid-funds">COA flags &#x27;deficiencies&#x27; in DOH management of P67-B COVID funds</a></li></ul><p>&quot;Alam ko gusto mo nang mag-resign, pero alam mo rin na tatanggihan kita ngayon,&quot; Duterte told Duque in a taped meeting on Monday. </p><p>(I know you want to resign, but you know that I will refuse you.) <br/> <br/>&quot;Noon you have attempted to resign twice. I expect you to say something to me after this, mag-resign ka. Sabihin ko sa iyo, hindi. Wala ka namang ginawang masama. Bakit ka mag-resign?&quot; the President continued. </p><p>(You have attempted to resign twice before. I expect you to say something to me after this, that you&#x27;ll resign. I tell you, no. You did nothing wrong. Why will you resign?) </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/08/16/21/philhealth-only-delayed-in-covid-claim-reimbursements">PhilHealth only delayed in COVID-19 claim reimbursements, says official</a></li></ul><p>(You have attempted to resign twice before. I expect you to say something to me after this, that you&#x27;ll resign. I tell you, no. You did nothing wrong. Why will you resign?) </p><p>The President previously rejected calls for the firing of the Health chief over his response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the P15-billion corruption allegation against medical state insurer PhilHealth, whose board is chaired by Duque. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/13/21/coa-clarifies-report-after-doh-audit-backlash">COA clarifies after DOH audit backlash: &#x27;We did not say money lost on corruption&#x27;</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/16/21/doh-halts-purchase-of-laptops-worth-p700000">After backlash, DOH halts procurement of laptops worth P700,000</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/14/21/doh-no-corruption-in-p67-b-coa-flagged-funds">DOH: No corruption in handling P67 billion in COA-flagged COVID-19 funds</a></li></ul><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1749837" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar"><em>Video courtesy of PTV/RTVM</em></div>

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III continues to enjoy the 'full trust and confidence' of ?President Rodrigo Duterte, Malacañang said on Tuesday. 

DOH chief Duque still enjoys Duterte trust, despite P67-billion flagged funds: Palace | ABS-CBN

Halalan 2025

Entertainment

News

Metro.Style

Lifestyle

Sports

More

Traffic

Horoscope

News

DOH chief Duque still enjoys Duterte trust, despite P67-billion flagged funds: Palace

DOH chief Duque still enjoys Duterte trust, despite P67-billion flagged funds: Palace

Jamaine Punzalan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 17, 2021 03:42 PM PHT

Read More:

Delta COVID variant

COVID variant

COVID vaccine

COVID quarantine

COVID

COVID19

coronavirus

COVID Philippines

COVID surge

COVID updates

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.