Sotto wants PSG chief called in another Senate hearing, not one on COVID-19 vaccine rollout

Senate President Vicente Sotto III wants Presidential Security Group (PSG) commander Brigadier General Jesus Durante III to present himself before the Senate in another hearing, not the one about the government's plan on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout scheduled on January 11.

Sotto made the remark in a radio interview on Saturday after Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon suggested that Durante be summoned in the January 11 hearing to shed light on the early inoculation of PSG troops with an unregistered vaccine.

According to Sotto, the issue on the early vaccination of PSG troops was not part of what they have discussed as the agenda of the upcoming hearing.

"Ang pinag-uusapan natin, paano ang gagawin sa procurement, ibang usapan 'yan. Puwede sigurong tumawag ng ibang hearing tungkol diyan, hindi kasama sa Committee of the Whole," he said.

"Kung gusto nila i-take up, puwede rin. Sa akin kasi medyo mas malawak na usapin 'yan. Ibang usapin 'yan, hindi 'yan sakop sa gustong talakayin, kung paano gagawin," he added.

Durante took earlier full responsibility for the inoculation of some PSG members using an unregistered vaccine against the novel disease, which he said has been donated upon their request. 

He, however, refused to disclose the source of the vaccine.

Meanwhile, Sotto said they have yet to send out invitations for the January 11 hearing.

Senator Francis Pangilinan has given him a list of the proposed resource persons, he added, but he thinks they are too many.

"'Yung sinubmit ni Senator Pangilinan na listahan pinasabi ko sa staff niya bawasan muna. Tsinek ko priorities pero huwag naman higit dalawang dosena kasi hindi makakapagsalita lahat 'yun, lalo na kung bibigyan ko ng tig-10 minutes ang mga senador," Sotto said.

Sotto said the Senate hearing should prioritize for now the discussion on how many vaccine doses will be procured, how it will be stored, and how the P72.5 billion allocation for the vaccine procurement will be utilized.

"'Yun munang essentials then we can set another hearing. Matagal pa naman 'yan dahil na-delay nga ang pagkakabili natin. Pagdating dito sa atin iche-check pa ng FDA 'yan. We have plenty of time to go about it," he said. —KG, GMA News