NBI, FDA investigations on PSG vaccination will continue — Palace

Despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s rejection of a Senate probe, investigations by government agencies on the inoculation of Presidential Security Group (PSG) members with an unregistered COVID-19 vaccine will continue, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Palace spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte has not prevented agencies under the Executive department such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into the vaccination which allegedly took place in September and October last year.

“Yung mga hearings ng Ehekutibo can continue and of course we expect the PSG to appear and cooperate,” Roque said at a news conference.

“I think they will [cooperate] because there is no order from the President not to participate.”

Roque added that PSG commander Brigadier General Jesus Durante III was supposed to attend the fact-finding investigation by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday, but the AFP scrapped it following Duterte’s pronouncements on Monday night.

Earlier in the day, the NBI said it would continue with its probe, with Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra saying it can get information from other sources.

"The focus of the NBI investigation is the alleged proliferation of unregistered anti-COVID 19 vaccines in the so-called black market and their unauthorized administration. The agency can obtain information from various sources," Guevarra said.

Keep silent

Addressing the nation from Davao City on Monday night, Duterte said he would order the PSG to keep silent in the event of a Senate probe as regards the inoculation of his close-in security detail.

He warned of a potential crisis between the Executive and Legislative branches if the lawmakers would use its contempt powers on the PSG.

“Ang sabi lang niya: wala pong matter in aid of legislation sa bagay na ito at hindi niya naintindihan kung bakit gusto pa mag-imbestiga ng Senado,” Roque said.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon earlier proposed that Durante should appear in the Senate hearing on the government's plan for the COVID-19 vaccine rollout slated for January 11, accusing the PSG chief of “deliberately” withholding information from the public.

But Drilon changed his tune after the President criticized the planned Senate probe.

In a radio interview on Tuesday, Drilon acknowledged Duterte’s power of executive privilege to prevent Durante from appearing before Congress.

The senator said the PSG need not be invited anymore but other resource persons who may give information about the issue may still be asked to appear.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III earlier said he wanted Durante to appear in another Senate hearing, not the one set for next week. — RSJ, GMA News