DUQUE: FPRRD ORDERED ₱47.6-B FUND TRANSFER IN 2020

Former Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Monday said former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte directed the controversial transfer of P47.6 billion from the Department of Health (DOH) to the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) for the purchase of COVID-19 supplies in 2020.

Duque made the statement during the oversight hearing of the House Committee on Appropriations, which reviewed the budget performance of the DOH and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

During the hearing presided over by House appropriations panel vice chair and Marikina City Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo, a member of the committee questioned Duque about the transfer's origin. 

Duque responded that publicly,  this was made by the former President in their meetings in the weekly meeting or talk to the people.

It was reiterated for clarity that the P47.6 billion to be transferred to PS-DBM was publicly announced by the Duterte.

The Office of the Ombudsman has recently ordered the filing of graft charges against Duque and former DBM Undersecretary Christopher Lao over what it regarded as “irregular transfer” of DOH funds to PS-DBM for the procurement of COVID-19 supplies. 

The anti-graft body also found Duque and Lao guilty of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the service.

This is Terence Mordeno Grana, reporting for AFP Community News, One AFP for Stronger Philippines.