Health chief Duque may not be 'right guy' to fight COVID-19: senator

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III might not be the "right guy" to lead the country's coronavirus fight despite President Rodrigo Duterte's repeated defense of his track record, Sen. Nancy Binay said Wednesday. 

Binay said she and 13 other senators in April had urged Duque to step down over his supposed "failure of leadership" during the coronavirus crisis. Duterte has repeatedly rejected calls for his aide's resignation.

• READ: Senators demand Health Secretary Duque's resignation over coronavirus crisis

"Kami sa Senado, majority of us already expressed our sentiments na baka he is not the right guy at the moment for us to solve this problem," the lawmaker told ANC. 

"I think my position is clear already, the mere fact that I signed the resolution calling for his resignation and I still stand by that decision," she added. 

The Office of the Ombudsman is investigating Duque over allegedly overpriced coronavirus testing kits, delayed safety gear for medical workers, lapses in the death of health frontliners and the processing of their benefits, and "confusing" reporting of COVID-19 cases. 

• Duque should take leave of absence to ensure 'impartial' Ombudsman probe: Gatchalian
• 'Sigurado ako sa kaniya': Duterte vows Duque's innocence amid Ombudsman probe
• 'Nagtatrabaho 'yung tao': Duterte defends Duque anew over COVID-19 pandemic handling

ANC, July 1, 2020