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Du30 can't recall COVID-19 fund transfer to PS-DBM
By J.Lo
"I could not recall, for life of me..maybe what you are saying is true former president Rodrigo Duterte does not remember authorizing transfer of P47.6 billion to Procurement Service of Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) for purchase of COVID-19 protective equipment, as claimed by former health secretary Francisco Duque III.
Duterte, however, conceded: "Maybe what I said is, 'go ahead.' "
But he stressed: "considering huge amount of fund transfer, I would have insisted as lawyer to put it in memo or something."
Duque told House committee on appropriations that Duterte authorized transfer because of public health emergency.
While Duterte insists he "cannot recall accurately" what he said, he conceded that he might have given transfer go-signal.
Duterte explained since it was pandemic, government was hard-pressed to find solution on how to protect health workers.
"I ordered everybody to do everything they can do," he said.
Salvador Panelo, who served as Duterte's chief presidential legal counsel, said Duterte's directive was "regular" and was meant to protect public from COVID-19.
Following calls to include Duterte in probe on government's pandemic supply deals, Panelo said purpose of transfer was to do away with bidding for purchase of medical equipment like face masks, face shields and personal protective equipment that were urgently needed to respond to pandemic.
He added that regular bidding process would have delayed immediate response required by emergency situation and would have "disastrous effect" on the nation.
"It is to credit of political will of PRRD ,president Rodrigo Roa Duterte and his decisive action, enactment by Congress of Bayanihan To Heal As One Act I and II and people's disciplined response that saved lives of millions of Filipinos," he stressed.
At hearing by House appropriations committee, Duque said Duterte had ordered transfer of P47.6 billion in COVID-19 funds from DOH to budget department's Procurement Service, move flagged by state auditors.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros said the former president should be included in investigation into pandemic supply contracts, since it can be proven that he was introduced to Pharmally officials by Michael Yang, his special adviser in 2017.
Duterte should, at the very least, explain policy considerations that resulted in his directive to Duque, Hontiveros added.
In recent statement, Duque said Duterte had been consistent and open in directing his administration to act swiftly and decisively and to do all that it could to fight pandemic from the very beginning of public health emergency.
"What has been lost in political noise is the fact that these CSEs ,common-use supplies and equipment were procured sometime in April 2020, during very beginning of pandemic when the only way we knew to protect ourselves, most especially our health workers, from COVID-19 virus was through face masks, face shields and PPEs, their procurement was not only necessary, but was of extreme urgency…moreover, having been declared CSEs, procurement of these items through PS-DBM is mandatory under the law, and not discretionary upon DOH…accordingly on basis of foregoing premises that president Duterte gave his approval to course procurement of said items through PS-DBM," Duque said.
Former senator Richard Gordon calls Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. scandal "biggest scam."
"What happened at Pharmally is biggest scam and the president of this country masterminded it… I can say that without batting an eye," Gordon said during Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, adding it would never have happened without Duterte.
When Gordon was chairman of Senate Blue Ribbon committee, former senator had at least 18 hearings and submitted committee report to ombudsman.
"In fact, we filed case," he said.
Gordon detailed misappropriation of funds, stating Duterte transferred P47 billion and "when COA investigated, Duterte cursed us…he was angry because Christopher Lao was exposed."
"Duterte's administration never answered for it…now they are scared…former senator Franklin Drilon said Duque is afraid and is now pointing to Duterte," Gordon said.
He added he told Duque to resign if he didn't want to follow orders.
"If he followed, he's liable…his only chance is to be state witness against Duterte," Gordon said.
Gordon also responded to statements that Duque's comments were taken out of context, insisting that the former health secretary "cannot hide."
"He should stand by his statement for his own salvation," Gordon said.
Meanwhile, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV warned Filipinos not to be complacent as Duterte might again seek higher office, even in Senate, in 2025 polls.
"Duterte might run for senator in 2025…so, we have a year to spread truth about him to awaken his moderate supporters and so he'd be shunned by new voters," Trillanes wrote on Facebook.
"Let's not be passive or else he will win again," he added, using hashtag #IbasuraSiDuterteSa2025.
Trillanes vows not to stop criticizing Duterte to make sure 78-year-old politician will not win any national post in next year's polls.
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