Senate probers, unfazed by President Duterte’s diatribes, affirmed determination to pursue an ongoing inquiry into alleged anomalies attending the disbursement of the P47-billion fund to contain the deadly Covid contagion.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III confirmed the senators’ readiness on Friday to mount a thorough inquiry, more so that they are unearthing a lot of “interesting” details worth pursuing.
The Senate leader assured that, if need be, the senators will consider an option to convene as a Committee of the Whole to expand the inquiry amid new issues cropping up regarding the reported transfer of P47 billion from the Department of Health’s (DOH) pandemic fund to the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM).
Set for Tuesday, September 7, 2021, Senate probers will conduct the fourth Covid hearing of the Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Senator Richard Gordon, who confirmed that among those expected to testify are: Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr., and former Budget Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao.
Senate sources said Blue Ribbon probers are still tracking down the whereabouts of businessman Michael Yang and other officers of Pharmally and other companies that provided the medical supplies.
This developed as Minority Leader Franklin Drilon decried Malacañang’s “personal attacks” against the senators, adding this will not derail the lawmakers from conducting the probe to validate reports indicating irregularities attending the bulk purchase of face masks, personal protective equipment (PPE), and other medical supplies.
According to Drilon, the senate probers will not be distracted by “side issues” and will pursue efforts to verify reports on alleged attempts to dip into public funds.
He was referring to the transfer of P47.7-billion pandemic funds to the Procurement Service of the DBM.