Duque may face graft raps if found remiss on Pfizer deal —Pangilinan

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III's alleged lapses in processing the deal for the supposed delivery of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines to the Philippines in January may  drag him to court, Senator Francis Pangilinan said Thursday.

"Kung totoo ito na nagkulang ang DOH (Department of Health), gross and inexcusable negligence sa anti-graft law ang posibleng kaso," the senator said in a message.

"Huwag naman sana na may issue ng 'kickvacc' sa dropping of the ball ng Pfizer vaccine procurement," he added.

Pangilinan said the upcoming Senate Committee of the Whole hearing on the vaccination program, which he called for, is crucial in checking if there are corrupt and overpricing practices involved in the rolling out of vaccines for COVID-19.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. recently said "somebody dropped the ball" which affected the shipment of 10 million Pfizer vaccines to the country.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, citing information from Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez, later on said it was Duque who failed to work on the necessary documentary requirement namely, the Confidentiality Disclosure Agreement.

On Thursday morning, Lacson tweeted what he called a "direct quote" but did not name whom it was from: "In July, we passed the ball to him. Instead of aiming at the hoop, he scratched his balls so he dropped the ball even as time was running out. Then, Singapore grabbed and shot the ball."

"Now, they have the vaccines and we don’t," the senator said.

Duque, for his part, said "there is no such thing as dropping the ball" and assured critics that negotiations are ongoing.

Nevertheless, Lacson said the initiative with Pfizer has been renewed only after "they missed the bus the first time."

Both Lacson and Pangilinan repeatedly called for the resignation of Duque in past months over his alleged failure of leadership in COVID-19 response. —LBG, GMA News