MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) rallied behind its five officials who were meted with preventive suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman, stressing that they play important roles in the nation’s response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
“We are supporting our five officials, these officials have been with us for decades already. Nagbigay na po ng ganitong sakripisyo, commitment, integrity-wise sila po ay mapagkakatiwalaan (They have given much sacrifice, commitment, integrity-wise they can be trusted),” DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a virtual media forum Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Ombudsman Samuel Martires ordered the preventive suspension of Undersecretary Roger Tong-An, Assistant Secretary Kenneth Ronquillo, Assistant Secretary Maylene Beltran, Director Laureano Cruz, and Director Esperanza Carating over the alleged delay in the release of benefits to healthcare workers in the front lines.
“This preventive suspension, I just want to clarify, and I hope our fellowmen would understand, those given preventive suspension, they are not yet given penalty, this is a process, legally done to have ease or to facilitate the investigation without the influence of the people under investigation,” Vergeire said in a mix of Filipino and English.
While the DOH is saddened by the situation in this time of pandemic, Vergeire said the health department is “always open for any investigation and it will abide in all the government processes”.
Vergeire added the DOH is hoping for a speedy resolution of the issue.
“In this time of pandemic, kailangang kailangan po namin ang mga tao namin (we really need our officials) and these five people are playing critical roles in our response to this pandemic,” she said.