Malacañang denied that there was discord on the COVID-19 response within President Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet after the conflicting statements released by Duterte’s men to the public.
On Wednesday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III told senators in a hybrid hearing that the Philippines was already on its second wave of COVID-19 infections. This statement that was later denied by Palace officials, saying that we are still in the first wave.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque claimed that Duque did not inform the President of his view that the country is supposedly already on its second wave of infections.
When asked if there was a problem on coordination among top officials of the administration, Roque said the Duterte Cabinet is doing “OK” despite conflicting statements.
“Medyo sintunado lang siguro ang isa pero OK naman po ang orchestra,” Roque said
[One is just a bit off-key but the orchestra is fine.]
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año also denied the supposed ‘discord’, saying the Cabinet is “solid” on measures in addressing the pandemic.
“Everything is discussed at the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) meeting. Every approved resolution is supported by all members of the Cabinet,” he told ABS-CBN News in a text message.
Last month, Ernesto Pernia left his post as the secretary of the National Economic Development Authority due to “general” differences he had with other Cabinet members. His exit came amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pernia was replaced by Karl Kendrick Chua, a former finance assistant secretary.
