Palace hits plan to summon PSG chief to Senate probe on COVID-19 vaccination

Malacañang on Monday criticized the proposal to summon the commander of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) to the Senate to explain the inoculation of PSG troops with an unregistered COVID-19 vaccine.

Speaking at a press briefing, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque appealed to the Senate to respect the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches of government.

“Hindi ko po maintindihan kung bakit panghihimasukan ng Senado, ang co-equal branch of government, ang seguridad ng ating Presidente, eh gayong hindi naman pinanghihimasukan ng Presidente ang seguridad ng Senado,” he said.

“Co-equal branches po kasi iyan, respect po sana.”

Last week, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said PSG commander Brigadier General Jesus Durante III should appear before the Senate inquiry on the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in the country on January 11 “to shed light on this issue.”

But Senate President Vicente Sotto III said on Saturday that the inoculation of PSG troops can be discussed in another hearing.

Durante has admitted that they did the vaccination by themselves and without the knowledge of President Rodrigo Duterte. The PSG chief, however, refused to disclose the source of the vaccine.

Senator Richard Gordon, meanwhile, urged Durante to consider resigning following criticisms over the inoculation.

Reacting to Gordon’s call, Roque said: “That’s addressed to General Durante.”

GMA News Online sought Durante’s comment but he has yet to respond as of posting time.

The military, Food and Drug Administration and National Bureau of Investigation are also looking into the PSG vaccination. —LDF, GMA News