Despite 'ball dropping' allegation, Locsin opposes call for Duque resignation

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/12/18/20200204-senate-hearing-ncov-gc-4384.jpg"/><figcaption>Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III during a Senate hearing on preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic, February 4, 2020. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA – Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. does not agree with Sen. Manny Pacquiao urging President Rodrigo Duterte to sack Health Secretary Francisco Duque III over the alleged mishandling of a vaccine procurement deal with Pfizer.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/17/20/ph-lags-behind-some-southeast-asian-neighbors-in-covid-19-vaccine-procurement">PH lags behind some Southeast Asian neighbors in COVID-19 vaccine procurement</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/21/20/pacquiao-urges-duterte-to-replace-duque-after-failure-to-secure-covid-19-vaccines-by-january">Pacquiao urges Duterte to replace Duque after failure to secure COVID-19 vaccines by January</a></li></ul><p>Duque was accused of failing to submit documents needed for the Philippines to receive by January the vaccines manufactured by Pfizer. He had denied &quot;dropping the ball&quot; in the supposed deal.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/16/20/lacson-says-cabinet-member-dropped-the-ball-in-vaccine-deal-with-pfizer">Lacson says Duque &#x27;dropped the ball&#x27; in vaccine deal with Pfizer</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/17/20/duque-denies-causing-delay-in-access-to-pfizers-covid-19-vaccine">Duque denies causing delay in access to Pfizer&#x27;s COVID-19 vaccine</a></li></ul><p>&quot;Sayang. Dapat this January, may vaccine na tayo, yung Pfizer. But masasabi natin na talagang kapalpakan yan ng ating DOH (Department of Health), si Secretary Duque,&quot; Pacquiao told ANC&#x27;s Headstart.</p><p>But for Locsin, the one who exposed the &quot;foiled&quot; deal along with Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez, letting Duque go is not an option.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/12/16/20/locsin-bares-supposed-foiled-deal-for-10-m-doses-of-pfizers-vaccine">Locsin bares supposed foiled deal for 10-M doses of Pfizer&#x27;s vaccine</a></li></ul><p>&quot;I don&#x27;t agree. I didn&#x27;t agree during PhilHealth investigation; I don&#x27;t agree now. Change Duque and the whole anti-Covid machinery of government will grind to a halt as the replacement replaces everyone already in place with 9 months of experience of good and bad moves,&quot; Locsin said in a tweet.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/18/20/locsin-defends-pfizer-as-duque-invokes-prudence-in-vaccine-procurement">Locsin defends Pfizer as Duque invokes prudence in vaccine procurement</a></li></ul><p>Locsin was referring to the previous calls to fire Duque over his alleged failure to address rampant corruption in PhilHealth, where he serves as board chairman.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/03/20/duque-denies-philhealth-command-responsibility-up-to-him">Duque denies PhilHealth command responsibility up to him</a></li></ul><p>Romualdez had urged the public to &quot;move on&quot; from the botched Pfizer deal and focus on a possible deal with US biotech firm Moderna, which he said the Philippines was already in advanced talks with in terms of supplying vaccine to the country.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/21/20/pfizer-controversy-now-irrelevant-moderna-covid-19-vaccine-more-advantageous-to-ph-envoy">Pfizer controversy now irrelevant; Moderna COVID-19 vaccine &#x27;more advantageous&#x27; to PH - envoy</a></li></ul><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NYKf9QCjod8?enablejsapi=1"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>For Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., who exposed the "foiled" Pfizer deal along with Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez, letting Health Secretary Francisco Duque go is not an option.</p>

For Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., who exposed the "foiled" Pfizer deal along with Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez, letting Health Secretary Francisco Duque go is not an option.

Despite 'ball dropping' allegation, Locsin opposes call for Duque resignation | ABS-CBN

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Despite 'ball dropping' allegation, Locsin opposes call for Duque resignation

Despite 'ball dropping' allegation, Locsin opposes call for Duque resignation

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 21, 2020 05:57 PM PHT

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