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- Netizens want DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III to resign after he made a statement regarding the suggested preventive measures for the new COVID-19 strain.
- A few months ago, the Health secretary was also criticized for the alleged unfair prioritization of the coronavirus testing.
Netizens have continued to criticize the Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III for allegedly failing to give a clear plan for the country’s COVID-19 response despite the almost a year-long community quarantines all over the country.
The flack against the Health secretary worsened after a new strain of the virus was discovered in other countries. On December 26, after netizens pushed the government to impose a travel ban to prevent the new strain of coronavirus from entering the Philippines, Duque stated that it should only be recommended if there are already community transmissions in the United Kingdom.
People have expressed their frustrations online, saying that there’s no use in having a travel ban if there have been recorded transmissions in the country.
https://twitter.com/_heyrodjdotph/status/1343051216239034369
Japan has announced that the country will ban foreign nationals from entering the country after the new variant of COVID-19 was recorded.
Meanwhile in the Philippines our "brilliant" @DOHgovph Sec. @SecDuque says we will WAIT for local transmission before enforcing ban! #DUQUERESIGNNOW https://t.co/QIWTCytNKa
— LesMiz (@MsMai2) December 27, 2020
Netizens also tweeted the hashtag #DuqueResignNow as a protest against the secretary’s alleged incompetency.
https://twitter.com/greyblackartist/status/1343148677544595457
“What we have done ba to deserve a secretary like Duque?” a Twitter user asked.
https://twitter.com/MrJhayEA/status/1342911113692897281
Others even made memes to express their disappointment regarding Duque’s statement.
https://twitter.com/KoyaLowi/status/1343135813945630720
“You have been incompetent and now a total imbecile. When will we ever learn?”
Just resign now….. you have been incompetent and now a total imbecile… when will we ever learn?. your decisions are endangering lives.. think of our front liners too! they are very tired from all these shit and all you do is talk shit (pardon my words). #DuqueResignNow https://t.co/LQvauohDor
— @treasureasahi (@treasureasahi2) December 27, 2020
Another even urged people to stop Duque as he may have a “brain virus” already.
Someone stop him!!!! Baka may brain virus c duque 🤮… But seriously thou he needs to resign #DUQUERESIGNNOW #DuqueResign https://t.co/JovEhyctjT
— LouisLopezBorces (@LouisBorces) December 27, 2020
While some are not even surprised with his words anymore.
Here we go again#DUQUERESIGNNOW #TravelBanNow pic.twitter.com/xXS8oCpDUf
— Jimmy_Rivas (@GeminiMan25) December 27, 2020
The Philippines has now imposed travel bans in 20 countries from December 30 to January 15.
Others also pointed out the issue regarding members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) being vaccinated against COVID-19.
VIP swab testing noon.
VIP vaccination ngayon.— Tom (@MATom_MD) December 28, 2020
A similar issue happened a few months ago when people suspected that there is VIP treatment when it comes to COVID-19 testings.
Duque then denied the accusations and said that the DOH will keep a close watch on the prioritization of the procedure.
“Babantayan natin ‘yan kaya maganda po ang papel na ginagampanan ng media dahil talagang kasama po namin kayo na magmamatyag. We will look into this that wala pong mga tinatawag nating VIP treatment,” he said.
In September, similar calls regarding Duque’s resignation was made by both netizens and senators. However, President Rodrigo Duterte has refused to let go of the Health Secretary.
During a televised speech, Duterte told the health chief that he has heard stories regarding the latter’s resignation and said that it’s “not the time” for him to let go of his position.
“Secretary Duque, this is not the time for you to resign. I have heard stories about, you’re going to resign. I have full trust in you. Ang akin lang naman diyan ‘yung corruption.” said the President.
“There’s an investigation going on, let it be, if you’re not guilty of corruption…ang kalaban ko lang ho ‘yung corruption.”
Duterte was referring to the investigations in the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation regarding money that was allegedly pocketed by executives. Duque was also a former chairman of the organization.
Duque then expressed his gratitude towards the President for his continued trust.
