Gordon: Probe into overpriced pandemic supplies may reach Duterte

The Senate investigation into the overpriced pandemic supplies may reach President Rodrigo Duterte, Senate blue ribbon committee chairman Richard Gordon said Tuesday.

In a virtual interview, Gordon confirmed that the investigation may go as high as Duterte when asked about the possible extent of the ongoing Senate probe on the Department of Budget and Management Procurement Service’s (DBM-PS) purchase of overpriced pandemic supplies during the height of the health crisis.

“Yes, and that’s why the President siguro reacted. Wala pa naman kaming subpoena, hindi pa naman namin siya iniimbita pa. Nag-react siguro siya doon,” Gordon said,

(We haven’t served a subpoena yet. He’s not being investigated yet. Maybe he was reacting to that statement.)

“Dahil e, may picture, Pharmally was there, the government machinery of [Department of Health] was there, ‘yung regulatory agencies and then biglang nakapagpasok ng corporation dito na ang paid-up capital ay P600,000 pagkatapos nakukuha niya ngayon ang lalaking kontrata,” he added.

(There is a picture and Pharmally was there. The government machinery of the DOH was there. The regulatory agencies were there and then suddenly this corporation with a paid-up capital of P600,000 was there. The firm bagged big contracts.)

Gordon was referring to the multi-billion contract that the Department of Budget and Management Procurement Service awarded to Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation— a small firm with a paid up capital of around P650,000— for the procurement of pandemic supplies including face masks.

The contract was awarded to the said company during the stint of former Budget Undersecretary Christopher Lloyd Lao, who served as President Rodrigo Duterte’s volunteer election lawyer in 2016.

Gordon said they will scrutinize a picture of Duterte with Pharmally officials.

He was referring to an RTVM footage, which was first played in last week’s Senate hearing, showing Duterte having a meeting with former presidential adviser Michael Yang and Pharmally officials, the company being linked to the overpricing controversy.

Senator Bong Go was also seen accompanying Duterte in the said meeting.

“You go back to the first picture where Pharmally came in. The picture was with the President,” he said.

“Kung alam kong mag-operate sa mga yan ‘Oh  ayan o kilala kami ni Presidente,’ di na kailangan, papakita lang yan. E kung meron pang nagbubulong ‘Oh tao ni presidente yan bigyan niyo ng kontrata yan’ Possible o hindi? That’s what we want to know,” he pointed out.

(If I know how to operate that I can say “The president know us.” They don’t need to undergo tedious process. If there’s someone who will tip the agencies and tell them “These are the President’s men. Give them contracts.” Is that possible or not? That what we want to know.)

Duterte might also have to answer why he did not reprimand the officials involved in the transaction.

“Bakit hindi niya sinisita, sinisita niya kami, sinisita niya ang [Commission on Audit]. Ba’t di niya tanungin, totoo ba yang ginawa niyo sa COA? Ikaw Lao, totoo ba yan? Totoo ba yan na nagbigay ka ng P8.7 billion dito sa Pharmally? Totoo ba yang malalaking amount na yan pinapayagan mo? Bakit ikaw lang pumipirma niyan?” he said.

(Why did the President make an exemption? He has reprimanded us and the COA. Why not ask if the COA findings are true? Is that true, Lao? Is it true that you have given P8.7 billion to Pharmally? Is it true that you approved those huge amounts? Is it true that you are the sole signatory in these contracts?)

Gordon was referring to former Budget Undersecretary Christopher Lloyd Lao, who was the head of the DBM-PS when the multbillion contract was awarded to Pharmally.

Apart from investigation that may reach Duterte, Gordon said the Senate ethics committee may also look into Senator Go’s alleged links with Lao.

“I don’t see why the president should lose his cool because Lao is being investigated? What are we hiding here?” Gordon asked.

Lao served as President Rodrigo Duterte’s volunteer election lawyer in 2016.

Lao allegedly worked as Go’s aide. This, however, was denied by Go.

In the last hearing, Gordon questioned Lao’s appointment to various high-level government posts, raising his ties with Duterte and Go.—LDF, GMA News