Duque says DOH trusted PS-DBM with COVID-19 supply bidding

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Sunday said they trusted the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) to aid in the COVID-19 supply procurement as he denied involvement in the controversial transactions with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation.

Interviewed over Dobol B TV, Duque was asked to react to the non-inclusion of Department of Health (DOH) officials among the individuals the Senate blue ribbon committee said should face charges in the Pharmally mess.

"Wala kaming kinalaman dahil nagbaba kami ng pondo sa kanila [PS-DBM] (We are not linked to that because we were the ones who sent the funds to them)," said Duque.

On Oct. 19, the Senate panel revealed its preliminary findings amid the ongoing hearings into the alleged overpricing of supplies procured by the government during the pandemic. It recommended that several complaints be filed against former PS-DBM head Christopher Lao, former Overall Deputy Ombudsman Warren Liong, and former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang.

Duque also said they had no choice but to rely on PS-DBM for the procurement because DOH officials were under isolation due to COVID-19 infections last March 2020.

"Maraming sa aming naka-isolate so talagang 'di namin magagawa ang pag-bidding... 'Yung committee namin apat o lima. Samantala ang PS-DBM full time," he said.

(Many of us were in isolation so we really couldn't do the bidding. Our committee only had four or five [members]. Meanwhile, the PS-DBM has full-time [employees].)

Duque further lamented that without PS-DBM's help, health workers will suffer due to lack of medical supplies.

"Kung hindi kami hihingi ng tulong, 'di kami makakakuha ng PPEs. E 'di maraming mamamatay na HCW (healthcare worker). Mapaparalisa ang healthcare system. Mga hospital magsasara," he said.

(If we won't ask their help, we can't get PPEs [personal protective equipment]. Many health workers will die. Our health care system will be paralyzed. Hospitals will close.)

After the Senate released its partial findings, the Palace dismissed the allegation of a conspiracy between former administration officials and Pharmally Pharmaceuticals Corp. to defraud the government. It added that the Senate hearing was "politically motivated."

President Rodrigo Duterte had said there is nothing wrong with Pharmally being supplied by Chinese suppliers.

He also issued a recent memorandum to bar his Cabinet men from attending the Senate probe into the "overpriced" COVID-19 equipment, adding that officials must focus on pandemic efforts. However, Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the blue ribbon committee, said Duterte's move was "unconstitutional."

Duterte also defended Yang amid the overpricing issue hounding the PS-DBM. 

The Commission on Audit (COA) has already started the special audit on the controversial deals of PS-DBM with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation. 

COA chairman Michael Aguinaldo said the audit report may be released before the year ends. —KG, GMA News