Duterte to senators: File cases vs. Pharmally if you have evidence

If it has evidence, President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said the Senate should file cases against officials of Pharmally Pharmaceuticals Corporation over the allegedly overpriced COVID-19 supplies.

In his weekly public address, Duterte said the Senate is "not a criminal court" and should not be used for a "witch hunt."

"If you think you have enough evidence against Pharmally, go ahead and file cases against them in proper courts. Stop using it simply as a witch hunt in aid of election," Duterte said.

Duterte said he is not defending Pharmally, but he does not want Cabinet officials caught up in the hearing as they have to attend to COVID-19 matters.

"If you want to do it, hearing, even after Christmas or after elections... Ang problema 'yong tao ko. 'Yong Pharmally, gusutin ninyo nang husto, 'wag mo lang isali ang mga tao ko," he said.

He also said the Senate failed to show enough respect to the executive department, making them attend the hearing and yet not questioning them.

"Nagkulang kayo ng respeto... Maybe after two witnesses, you can call Galvez and Duque for something na kailangan ninyong malaman pero kung tawagin ninyo, paupuin niyo lang. Parang nilalaro niyo lang kami," Duterte said.

The president also told Senator Richard Gordon that he is not God and that he cannot play God.

"You cannot continue this hearing until kingdom come. You are not a senator forever and the time of reckoning will come," Duterte said.

He said he already signed the memo directing executive department officials to ignore the Senate investigation.

The Senate blue ribbon committee is looking into the Department of Health’s transfer of P42 billion funds to the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and ManagementDBM-PS for the procurement of face masks and face shields at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last year.—LDF, GMA News