Ombudsman Samuel Martires during the Integrity Crusade Program last July 2019
Photo file/THEPHILBIZNEWS
By Victoria “NIKE” De Dios
“There are no sacred cows in a pandemic”, this was the text message sent by Ombudsman Samuel Martires to THEPHILBIZNEWS in response to the follow-up question sent to him today regarding his move to the investigation of the Department of Health including Health Secretary Francisco Duque III given the fact that the embattled DOH Secretary enjoys the trust and confidence of President Duterte. We also asked if he is not afraid that this move to investigate Duque, some Department of Health (DOH) officials and employees, might ruffle some feathers.
Ombudsman Martires sent text message to the journalist yesterday, June 17 to inform that he has already formed a joint investigative team to look into the alleged irregularities in the procurement of the PPEs, confusing data of coronavirus cases, delayed reporting deaths presented by DOH, the non-payment of the benefits to the family of health workers who died and other mandates of the DOH which they failed to do that resulted to the deaths of the frontliners.
He said the launching of the investigation was done by his office motu proprio without the need for any complainant but upon the recommendation of several officials of the agency.
The Ombudsman also directed the investigation team to look into the case of the purchase made by DOH of the 100,000 test kits and as well as the news reports on the alleged refusal of the DOH officials to use the test kits developed by the University of the Philippines
Martires also revealed that there was already an investigation initiated a few weeks before the enhanced community quarantine was imposed in Luzon.
DOH not cooperating
As the investigation was already initiated before, the investigators from the Office of the Ombudsman who went to the Department of Health office were being passed from one department to another, that apparently irked the Ombudsman.
“They were not cooperating,” Ombudsman Martires said.
“What is annoying is our investigators were given the runaround by some DOH officials which can be construed as evading something. They pointed out our investigators to go from one office to another,” the Ombudsman explained.
When asked what are the possible charges against those involved officials when probable cause is established, Martires said, “We can file criminal or administrative charges against any official who would fail or refuse to comply with the legal procedures, orders or requests of the investigative team.”
Meanwhile, the DOH welcomed the investigation initiated by the Office of the Ombudsman. It stated that it would comply with all the directives from Ombudsman.
“We are willing to cooperate with authorities to ensure utmost transparency throughout the duration of the investigation and beyond, contrary to their perception we are not cooperating,” the DOH said in its statement.
