Push Admin

Duque says to resign 'if the time comes' but must clear DOH deficiencies first

Article (news)

Job Manahan, 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 Duterte during a meeting with Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City, August 16, 2021. Joey Dalumpines, Presidential Photo" src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/08/27/20210816-duterte-monday-iatf-ho-16.jpg"/><figcaption>Health Secretary Francisco Duque III gives an update to President Rodrigo Duterte during a meeting with Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City, August 16, 2021. <em>Joey Dalumpines, Presidential Photo</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA— Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Friday said he is prepared to resign should &quot;if the time comes&quot; but added he must first clear the Department of Health (DOH) of fund use deficiencies flagged by the Commission on Audit. </p><p>The health department is currently being scrutinized in Congress after COA spotted deficiencies on how it handled P67 billion COVID-19 pandemic response funds. </p><p>Duque had earlier decried such findings in an emotional outburst. </p><p>&quot;If the time comes when I need to resign, there’s no problem with me. What is important is we clear all of these findings for purported deficiencies and we will address [these queries] with all my DOH team who worked so hard to lead the fight against this pandemic for 18 months, and we have been relentless,&quot; Duque told members of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee in a hearing. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/17/21/winarat-niyo-kami-duque-laments-coa-report-on-doh-funds-in-house-hearing">READ: &#x27;Winarat niyo kami&#x27;: Duque laments COA report on DOH funds in House hearing</a></li></ul><p>&quot;If I need to leave, there’s no problem with that, I just want to be cleared of all these COA findings,&quot; he added. </p><p>The health chief issued the statement after Sen. Christopher &quot;Bong&quot; Go advised him to &quot;make the ultimate sacrifice.&quot; Duque, who has several times faced resignation calls, has been staunchly defended by President Rodrigo Duterte. </p><p>&quot;You have done so much already for Filipinos... We don&#x27;t want that your output would be compromised especially now that we both know lives are at stake,&quot; said Go.</p><p>&quot;My word of advice is make the supreme sacrifice when the right time comes. For now, may hearing naman tayo dito (we have hearings)... Clear yourself and the DOH... and address COA&#x27;s findings,&quot; he added.</p><p>When Sen. Panfilo Lacson clarified whether Go was asking Duque to step down from his post, he said that it was only his &quot;advice&quot; because he was just concerned.</p><p>&quot;Bigyan po natin sila ng pagkakataon na lumabas nang malinis. Desisyon po &#x27;yun ni Sec. Duque pagdating ng panahon,&quot; according to Go. </p><p>(Let us give them a chance to come clean. It is still Sec. Duque&#x27;s decision when the time comes)</p><p>Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte said he would not fire Duque &quot;<a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/21/21/duterte-says-to-keep-duque-even-if-it-brings-me-down">even if it will bring me down</a>.&quot;  </p><p>Duterte added that he would not fire Duque because &quot;there is no corruption, there is no loss of funds&quot; and &quot;whatever be the environment of the time, you have to observe fairness.&quot; </p><p>But he backtracked on these statements on Wednesday, saying that should Duque &quot;voluntarily&quot; resign, he would accept it. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/08/25/21/duterte-says-hell-accept-voluntary-duque-resignation">READ: Duterte changes tack, says he&#x27;ll accept if Duque quits &#x27;voluntarily&#x27;</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/25/21/senators-irked-as-duque-passes-questions-at-hearing">READ: Senators hit Duque for passing on questions to other DOH officials in Blue Ribbon probe</a></li></ul><div><strong>WATCH</strong></div><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=1750942" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

'If I need to leave, there’s no problem with that, I just want to be cleared of all these COA findings,' Duque said. 

Duque says to resign 'if the time comes' but must clear DOH deficiencies first

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

News

Duque says to resign 'if the time comes' but must clear DOH deficiencies first

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 27, 2021 06:36 PM PHT

Read More:

DOH

Duque

Francisco Duque III

Department of Health

COA

Commission on Audit

Senate Blue Ribbon Committee

COVID19

Duterte

Bong Go

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

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.