Robredo: Corruption robbed dialysis patients of gov’t assistance

Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday said the P8 billion worth of government money paid to start-up firm Pharmally for medical supplies amid the COVID-19 pandemic deprived dialysis patients in need of state assistance.

"Taun-taon, bilyon-bilyon 'yung nawawala sa korapsyon, alam ninyo 'yan. 'Yung bilyon na nawawala sa korapsyon, serbisyo na sana 'yan sa taumbayan. Noong naghi-hearing po si Senator Dick Gordon sa Pharmally, nakakalula, nakakalula 'yung amount ng pera na pinag-uusapan na nawala lang sa korapsyon," she said, referring to the Senate blue ribbon inquiry led by reelectionist Senator Richard Gordon.

(Yearly, we lose billions to corruption and you know that. Those billions lost to corruption, those are supposed to be government assistance for its people. During the Senate probe, the amounts involved in corruption are mind-boggling.)

"Ang parati ko po noong iniisip, 'yung mga dialysis patients na hindi nakakapag-dialysis dahil walang pera, 'yung sana nawala sa korapasyon, sana nakapagpa-dialysis na sila," she added.

(I always find myself thinking, those dialysis patients who cannot go to treatment because they have no money...those public funds lost to corruption would have been enough to pay for their dialysis.)

The Gordon-led Senate blue ribbon committee, in its partial report, said President Rodrigo Duterte betrayed the public trust in connection with his actions related to the government's multi-billion-peso contracts with Pharmally Corp.

Gordon's committee also recommended plunder, graft and other criminal and administrative charges against Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, former government officials, and Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation executives.

Gordon was also present during Robredo's campaign stop in Capiz to hear the Vice President laud his efforts.

Robredo won in Capiz during the 2016 vice presidential race with 253,290 votes. Then senator-Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. finished at far second with 43,684 votes.

Robredo thanked Capiz for making her win in 2016 even if she started as a nobody among rivals in pre-election polls.

"Maraming magagandang alaala. ‘Yung pinakauna ko pong bisita po rito noong kumakandidato ako bilang Pangalawang Pangulo, hindi niyo pa ako kilala. Nagpapakilala pa lang ako pero napakalaki ng tulong na ibinigay niyo sa akin sa eleksyon. Kahit po ako ‘yung pinakahindi kilala, dahil sa tulong niyo ay naging Pangalawang Pangulo tayo. Kaya maraming maraming salamat," Robredo said.

(This place brings a lot of good memories. When I first came here running for Vice President, you didn't know me yet. I was making myself known to you, and yet you gave me a huge lift in the elections. Because of you, I was elected Vice President. Thank you very much.)

Robredo said as proof of her word that she is after lifting the quality of life of those in the countryside, she initiated her office's anti-poverty program Angat Buhay where she partners with private firms to aid the needy.

"We had a measly budget in our office. Pero ipinakita po namin na pag desidido kaming tumulong, may magagawa kami palagi,"  she pointed out.

(We showed that as long as we have decided to be of help, we can make something happen.)

She said Angat Buhay conducted a medical mission on Roxas City, aided farmers with equipment to increase their crop yield, provided assistance to fisherfolk as well as typhoon relief and COVID-19 assistance such as personal protective equipment, community learning hub for students, among others.

"We can do all these as long as we manage the public funds well," she added. — RSJ, GMA News