Duque could have been new witness to reopen Senate probe on Pharmally mess —Hontiveros

Former Health secretary Francisco Duque III could have been a new witness that would prompt the reopening of the Senate blue ribbon committee's investigation into the controversial procurement of COVID-19 supplies involving Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation.

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros stated this when asked if she sees the need to relaunch the probe and disclose all details of the procurement to the public.

"Matagal na namin gusto sana. Naghihintay lang talaga kami ng tinatawag na new matter. Bagong resource person or whistleblower or bagong ebidensya. Si former secretary Duque na sana 'yun eh, kung sakali, di ba? Eh kaya lang, just a few hours later, binawi pa nila," Hontiveros said during the Kapihan sa Senado forum on Wednesday.

In a House hearing earlier this week, Duque, who was the Health secretary during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, said that the transfer of over P41 billion to the Procurement Service of Department of Budget and Management was upon the directive of then-President Rodrigo Duterte.

He said the transfer was necessary and legal even though he is facing graft charges over it.

In a 24 Oras report on Wednesday, he further added that his response stating that the former president approved the transfer was simply “taken out of context.”

He insisted that he only agreed to former President Duterte's approving the budget, but was not able to expound on the fact that the action was done as an initial COVID-19 response in April 2020.

Duque added that response had to be fast at the time to mitigate the spread of the virus, and that the purchase was valid with the President’s authority under the PS-DBM.

"Bumilib na sana ako kay former secretary Duque... If he now refuses to be part of finding the whole truth, it's really his loss. Mostly it's the loss of the Philippines at tayong mga Pilipino," Hontiveros said.

"Magpupursige pa rin 'yung mga puspusang nag-iimbestiga d'yan. Pero, loss kay dating secretary Duque na hindi siya magiging bahagi nun...Habang naghihintay pa rin ang Senado ng isang new matter, nagpapatuloy naman 'yung iba pang mga government at constitutional bodies sa kanilang trabaho," she added.

For the lawmaker, the fact still remains that the "improper" transfer of billions of funds was made without due diligence and documentation.

Hontiveros, who was among the senators who actively participated in the 18th Congress' investigation into the Pharmally mess, expressed hope that persons involved in the controversy will face accountability in the future.

"Gaano man mga katagal nananalig ako, malalaman pa rin natin ang katotohanan at masisingil pa rin ang accountability ng lahat ng gumawa ng pera dyan," she said.

Asked if this involves Duterte, Hontiveros said, "kung talagang mapatunayan namin na siya 'yung nag-utos ng fund transfer, siya ay kasabwat sa mga ganyang kaduda-dudang procurement, kung siya ay kasabwat sa mga overpricing, then magiging tungkulin namin na singilin din ang kanyang accountability."

GMA News Online reached out to Duque for comment but has yet to receive a reply.

Ombudsman Samuel Martires has already ordered the filing of graft charges against Duque and former Budget undersecretary Christopher Lao, saying the transfer of P41 billion for the procurement of COVID-19 supplies in March 2020 to PS-DBM was illegal because it did not fall under common use supplies (CSE) which the PS-DBM is allowed to procure.

Duque has since appealed the decision of the Ombudsman.

'Mastermind'

In a forum, former senator Richard Gordon on Wednesday blamed former president Rodrigo Duterte for the Pharmally mess.

“Let me point out something and I hope I can get their redemption. Itong nangyari sa Pharmally is the biggest scam and it was masterminded by the president of this country,” said Gordon in a news forum. 

“I can say that without batting an eyelash. It would never have happened without him,” he added. 

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which was then led by Gordon, held marathon hearings in 2021 on the anomalous awarding of contract to the Chinese-owned Pharmally Pharmaceuticals Inc. for the supply face masks, face shields, and other COVID-19 essentials for the government’s pandemic response. 

Gordon pointed out that the former chief executive has never complained about the anomalous deal. 

“Never niyong narinig na umangal si Duterte sa mga ninanakaw...at least magpakita man ng kaunting konsensya,” he said. “Wala eh, bakit? magkakasama sila...pinlano lahat yan para ma-inflict sa atin ang pinakamalaking nakawan sa buong bansa.” 

(You have never heard Duterte speak against the anomaly…at least he could have had a slight conscience. He didn’t, why? Because they have been working together…they planned this to inflict this biggest thievery in the country.) 

Duterte then slammed the Senate inquiry and offered to resign if graft in the procurement of medical supplies are proven. He even defended his former adviser, Michael Yang, who is the founder of Pharmally. 

In 2022, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee released a 113-page report on the Pharmally probe which found Duterte has betrayed the public trust in connection with his actions towards the anomalous procurement deal. 

The report also noted that Duterte should be dealt with charges after his presidency. 

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

GMA News Online has reached out to Duterte’s camp for his comment. —with Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/AOL/BM, GMA Integrated News