President Duterte, nagtitiwala pa rin kay Health Secretary Francisco Duque dahil sa kakulangan ng ebidensya na ang Cabinet official ay sangkot sa mga ilegal sa gawain ayon sa Malacañang.

Ayon kay presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, “Hindi niya ina-absolve. Hindi niya dini-discourage ‘yung mga pag-iimbestiga…  He could not find a good reason to prosecute an innocent man.” 

“As a lawyer, he’s also open minded to the fact na mayroon siyang binuo na task force. Mayroon po talagang kapangyarihan mag-imbestiga ang Senado at kung mayroon pong ebidensiya titignan ni Presidente ang ebidensiya,”

“Abogado po kasi si Presidente at ang sinasabi niya paulit-ulit wala po siyang nakikitang ebidensiya laban kay Secretary Duque na naging dahilan kung bakit po patuloy ang kumpiyansa niya at tiwala kay Secretary Duque,” dagdag pa niya.

“Ako’y abogado and I know what is probable cause and prima facie. These are two phrases that are important before you can file a case in court. Problem is, I have reviewed — hindi naman ‘yung — a cursory reading really — and I have yet to find ‘yung sabi nila na idedemanda si Duque dahil may kasalanan,” sabi ni Duterte.

“I have read the findings and for the life of me I cannot really find a good reason to prosecute an innocent man. Mine is to not really prosecute just for the sake of being somebody being prosecuted. My job is to see to it that the rule of law — the rules for or against a person — are followed.”