The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed the administrative charges against former Health Secretary Francisco Duque III regarding the alleged illegal transfer of P41 billion from the Department of Health (DOH) to the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) in 2020.
The Ombudsman ruled that Duque could no longer be subjected to administrative penalties, such as removal from public office, as he no longer holds a government position. “This Office is constrained to hold that Duque is no longer the proper subject of an administrative complaint in connection with the irregular fund transfers to PS-DBM during his stint as DOH Secretary,” the Ombudsman stated.
Despite being cleared of administrative charges, Duque still faces graft charges related to the same budget transfer. Prosecutors claim the P41-billion fund transfer was illegal and lacked a proper memorandum of agreement, as well as required certifications. The funds were intended for medical supplies during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Duque maintains his innocence, calling the graft charges “baseless” and expressing confidence in proving his case before the Sandiganbayan.
Meanwhile, former Budget Undersecretary Christopher Lao, also implicated in the case, has filed a motion to quash the graft charges against him. His arraignment has been postponed to November 11, allowing prosecutors time to respond.
