MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) has vouched for its five officials who were preventively suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman due to their alleged lapses and anomalies in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response.
DOH spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire on Wednesday said the entire department was saddened with the suspension even if the five DOH officials were not yet proven guilty.
“We are supporting our five officials. These officials have been with us for decades already, nagbigay na ng ganoong sakripisyo, commitment. Integrity-wise, sila po ay mapagkakatiwalaan,” Vergeire said in a media forum.
On Tuesday, Ombudsman Samuel Martires slapped six-month suspension without pay on Undersecretary Roger Tong-An, assistant secretaries Kenneth Ronquillo and Maylene Beltran, and directors Laureano Cruz and Esperanza Carating for the late release of benefits of healthcare workers who died or got infected with COVID-19, as well as the anomalous purchase of personal protective equipment meant to protect the frontliners.
Vergeire added that the DOH will comply with all the requirements of the Ombudsman so the investigation can be wrapped up quickly as the suspended executives play crucial roles in the government’s COVID-19 response.
“Ang amin lang hiling sana ay magkaroon na po ng resolusyon para matapos na. Sakaling mapatunayan na wala namang issues, kasalanan, and violations, then our officials can go back to their work,” Vergeire said.
During the onset of COVID-19 pandemic last March, several health workers complained of shortage of PPE and other medical gear in hospitals to protect them from contracting the virus.
In June, it was revealed that 32 health workers died, but did not receive the P1 million supposed aid as part of the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act./PN
