Duterte slams senators who said Pharmally purchases came before Bayanihan 1 effectivity

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday again lashed out at members of the Senate investigating the government's COVID-19 purchases.

In his latest Talk to the People, Duterte took aim at senators who questioned the purchase of the Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) of equipment from the controversial Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation

He singled out Senator Francis Pangilinan, who he said was too focused on "trivial details" when the government is merely following the provisions of Bayanihan 1.

On Tuesday at a hearing the the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, Pangilinan questioned former PS-DBM chief Lloyd Christopher Lao over the justification for the purchase of face masks from Pharmally.

Lao had contended that the expeditious purchase complied with the Bayanihan 1 Law, which he said took effect on March 25, 2020.

But senators jumped on his pronouncement, saying that the law was not yet in effect at the time.

“Mr. President, we have to look into this because the effectivity of Bayanihan 1 was after posting, and it was on April 6,” Pangilinan said.

“This is a matter of documentary evidence and Mr. Lao is mistaken to say that it is effective March 25,” Pangilinan added.

Lao argued that the bill was passed by Congress on March 23, signed by the President on March 25, and was published in the Official Gazette on March 25.

Senator Richard Gordon backed Pangilinan’s point, saying Lao “did not apply the law properly.”

Senate President Vicente Sotto III also said there was no Bayanihan Law on March 25.

'Technicalities'

Duterte slammed the point of contention raised by Pangilinan.

"Itong si Pangilinan, effectivity date ng Bayanhian and pinagsasabi. Anong klaseng senador ka, mag-debate ng technicalities habang mayroong global pandemic," said Duterte.

"You know, you do not go on trivial matters as long as the property, the money of the republic was protected and that the goods that we bought reached to their intended beneficiaries," he added.

Duterte said the supplies were purchased as part of the COVID-19 emergency response.

"What's eating you guy? What's the beef?" he asked.

Senators have been investigating the PS-DBM's purchase of COVID-19 supplies last year, during which Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation bagged more than P8 billion in government contracts for the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Gordon has been embroiled in a word war with Duterte over the controversy. He has accused the president of lawyering for the officials being probed over the issue.

Duterte has repeatedly dismissed the Blue Panel probe as mere politicking, with Gordon often the target of his invectives. —JST, GMA News