Gordon urges probe on Duterte after Ombudsman orders raps vs. Duque, Lao

Former Senator and Senate blue ribbon committee chair Richard "Dick" Gordon on Wednesday again called for former President Rodrigo Duterte to be investigated in relation to the multi-billion Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation contract.

Gordon made the remark after the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the filing of graft charges against former Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and former Budget Undersecretary Christopher Lao over the alleged irregular transfer of over P41 billion for the procurement of COVID-19 supplies in March 2020.

"Ang ebidensya nandon na [sa Blue Ribbon chairman's report]. At don sa report ng Blue Ribbon...nakalagay do'n, si Duterte, pag natapos ang term niya dapat imbestigahin. Nando'n 'yon malinaw 'yon. Lahat sila dapat maimbestiga," Gordon said in an interview over Dobol B TV.

(The evidence is there in the Blue Ribbon chairman's report. It says that Duterte, when his term ends, should be investigated. All of them should be investigated.)

"Paano ba nagsimula ito? Sino ba ang nag-appoint kay Lao? Sino ba ang nag-appoint kay Liong hanggang sa Ombudsman, inappoint nino-- ni Duterte. From the very beginning, siya ang nag-appoint," he added.

(How did this start? Who appointed Lao? Who appointed Liong up to the Ombudsman? It's Duterte.)

Gordon was referring to ex- DBM procurement director Warren Liong who was among the personalities that the Office of the Ombudsman wanted to be filed with three counts of graft charges.

'Lacking'

While the former senator praised the Office of the Ombudsman for its latest decision, Gordon still found the investigation "lacking," as he noted how Duterte allegedly protected personalities that were linked to the controversy.

Among them, former presidential adviser Michael Yang who lent money to the officials of Pharmally for its COVID-19 kits contract with the Philippine government.  

"Kulang ang imbestigasyon. All the way tayo at hindi makakaila dahil sa bibig mismo ng [datig] presidente nanggagaling 'yung mga sinasabi niya na walang kasalanan sila Michael Yang," he noted, adding that the Senate's arrest order was not served to Yang because he was "protected" in Davao City.

(The investigation is lacking. We need to go all the way because it was the former president himself who said that Michael Yang was innocent.)

He also noted that Pharmally executives Mohit Dargani and Twinkle Dargani attempted to flee the country after the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee cited them in contempt and they were arrested at the Davao International Airport in Davao City while they were on board a chartered plane bound for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

"Bakit do'n sa Davao? Malinaw na malinaw e. As clear as day na nagsimula ang tinatawag nating pangungulimbat at pagpapahirap sa tao dun kay Duterte," Gordon remarked.

(Why in Davao? It's very clear. The hardships of the people started with Duterte.)

GMA News Online sought the comment of the former president through his former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and former Spokesperson Harry Roque but they have yet to respond as of posting time.

Public trust

Gordon then lamented how former officials in the country were not facing accountability unlike in other Asian countries where even their presidents were put in jail over their involvement in similar controversies.

"Bakit dito hindi natin mapakulong ang presidente? Ano ba ang mahiwaga samantalang gabi-gabi noon inaamin niya na siya ang nagbigay ng appointment," Gordon said.

(Why can't we imprison a former president here? It is such a mystery, despite previously admitting that he made the appointments.)

"'Di ba dapat pag may ganyang kalaking eskandalo, 'Hindi pwede yan. Not one whiff of corruption. Mga pulis hulihin niyo na lahat yan," he noted.

(It shouldn't be that way when there's a huge scandal. Not one whiff of corruption. They should be arrested.)

In February 2022, Gordon released a report on the Pharmally investigation which found that Duterte betrayed the public trust in connection with his actions related to the government's multi-billion-peso contract for the procurement of COVID-19 kits.

The report said the charges against Duterte should be dealt with after he leaves office.

The report, however, did not prosper in the Senate as some members of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee refused to sign Gordon's report.

In 2021, Duterte slammed the inquiry and offered to resign if graft in the government procurement is proven.

“Dito ko sinabi na mag-resign ako kung may corruption diyan. Ora mismo bababa ako. COA [Commission on Audit] na nagsabi na walang anomalya sa disbursements at delivery ng items. Ano ba ang gusto ma-elicit? Ano ba ang inyong gusto?” Duterte asked.

(Here I am saying I will resign if there is corruption there. Immediately, I will step down. COA already said there is no anomaly in the disbursements and delivery of items. What is it that you want to elicit? What do you want?)

“Ang agenda ng (The agenda of the) blue ribbon committee [is] motu propio investigation. The senators kept looking for the technical and financial requirements of Pharmally. Wala naman akong pakialam diyan (I don't have anything to do with it)," he added.

“What is clear is that there was a contract, there was delivery, kumpleto lahat ng specifications at quality, quantity and all. Tapos after delivery bago pa nagbayad ang Pilipinas," Duterte also said.

(What is clear is that there was a contract, there was delivery, and everything was complete in terms of specifications as to quality, quantity and all. The Philippine government also paid after delivery.) —VAL, GMA Integrated News