Duque does not have to wait for God himself to tell him

Embattled health secretary Francisco Duque continues to hang on to his post not by the strength of his own tenacity but by his willingness to subject the tensile strength of his own president's patience to breaking point. He is being greedy this way. Even if none of the things being said about him are true, the accusations that are at the heart of calls for him to resign are making things very difficult for a lot of people, especially those in the frontlines.

Somebody should tell Duque that sometimes one of life's great and cruel contradictions is that the best way to serve one's country is not to serve it at all. Judging by how the fight against the coronavirus is proceeding, it is clear that it proceeds, at this point, from uninspired leadership. Duque no longer inspires sacrifice nor commands confidence. Morale is low in the frontlines.

I will not repeat here what the allegations against Duque are. For one, they are what they are, just allegations. For another, they involve matters that have nothing to do with the coronavirus pandemic that has turned the lives of everyone upside down. But true or not, the allegations are there. And they prove to be too much of a weight on the shoulders of those who risk their lives everyday fighting the pandemic under Duque's command.

Right now, the only thread that keeps Duque tied to his post is this limp and thin excuse of serving at the pleasure of the president. But just how sure is Duque that he continues to give Duterte great pleasure? Duterte has enough problems and controversies of his own to derive pleasure from one more controversial figure.

Maybe it is true Duterte owes Duque some significant political debt and is repaying it by refusing to have to fire Duque. But staying the hand of the president does not necessarily translate into efficiency and effectiveness in one's job. And right now, it is not presidential decision on the matter of Duque that gives fight to the battle against COVID but the willingness of the fighters to carry on.

I will not go so far as to say we are losing the fight under Duque. But it goes without saying the Philippines could have done so much better under an inspired leadership. Unfortunately, there is nothing inspiring in a leader seriously weakened by serious allegations. On the contrary, having a leader keep his job not on the strength of merit but on the repayment for old political debts is the surest thing there is to getting demoralized.

Duque should be able to read between the lines, including those in the utterances of Duterte. In fact, more attention should be paid on utterances of Duterte because, as he says, his tenure is co-terminus with presidential pleasure. Sure, Duterte, who can be a real gentleman if he wants to contrary to the expectations of many, can lay it on thick for Duque.

But in case Duque does not know which lines to start reading in between, he could start from what Duterte has not said. Duterte has never said he will reject an irrevocable resignation from Duque. By his glowing words for Duque, he is just saying he is like a diamond. Duterte never said this diamond is forever.