Duque is Unfit to Be Health Chief – Health Workers
Militant health
workers and professionals believe “the Philippine health care system needs
Francisco Duque III like it needs another boil to add to the festering
sore that is the Arroyo regime.”
BY BULATLAT
Dr. Darby Santiago,
vice chairman of the Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD), scored in a
statement May 28 the appointment of Francisco Duque III as health
secretary.
“Once again, Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo has rewarded those who have been in cahoots with her in
subverting the true will of the people during the elections of 2004,” he
said.
Santiago cited how
Duque was reportedly instrumental in putting Macapagal-Arroyo’s picture on
both sides of millions of PhilHealth cards that were distributed during
the campaign period. Duque was at the time PhilHealth president.
HEAD also accused
Duque of being responsible for the juggling of various funds, including
the P530 million from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA),
for the benefit of Macapagal-Arroyo’s election campaign last year.
“Duque’s mercenary
character is the only criterion that Arroyo has considered in appointing
him, thereby making him truly unfit for this office,” Santiago also said.
“But because of the political patronage system that is a key feature of
Arroyo’s ‘strong republic,’ he may yet join the cast of accused thieves
(e.g. Winston Garcia of GSIS), killers (e.g. Gen. Jovito Palparan), and
pro-capitalist elitists (e.g. Patricia Sto. Tomas of DoLE) that comprise
Arroyo’s cabinet and bureaucracy.”
HEAD believes that
Duque will only push for the faster implementation of the privatization
and corporatization of the public health care system. This, it said, will
endanger the security of tenure of thousands of health workers since it
expects Duque to further streamline the government bureaucracy. The health
group said Duque is known for batting for the integration of government
hospitals.
HEAD vowed to reject
Duque’s appointment as well as join other sectors in ousting Macapagal-Arroyo
from the presidency. Bulatlat
BACK TO
TOP ■
PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION ■
COMMENT
© 2004 Bulatlat
■
Alipato Publications
Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided
its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.
