Partido Reporma standard-bearer Panfilo “Ping” Lacson is not convinced that ‘betrayal of public trust’ can be applied to some of the personalities involved in the multibillion-peso Pharmally scandal, but there is no doubt in his mind that those found liable should be held accountable.
The Senate Blue Ribbon committee, in its partial report, said it is considering that President Rodrigo Duterte could be liable of betrayal of public trust.
Stressing he had strong reservations about the contents of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee report on the Pharmally issue despite signing off on its release, Lacson said he is ready to interpellate the report if or when it reaches the Senate plenary in May.
Lacson noted that the evidence gathered by the Blue Ribbon panel pointed mainly to the greed and lack of competence of officials of agencies like the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management in dealing with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation.
The small firm was granted a total of P11 billion in government contracts to supply medical equipment to combat the COVID-19 pandemic despite not having the financial capacity to guarantee the purchases.
Lacson said the phrase “betrayal of public trust” contained in the report had to be discussed at length because it could lead to the impeachment of a sitting President.
“When I signed the report, I did so as vice chairman of the committee. But I did so with reservations, so it doesn’t mean I support all its contents,” Lacson said.
Lacson said the issue should be treated the same way as other health care-related exposes he made in the past—with relentless pursuit of the facts to make those involved accountable.
At least three senators are hesitating to sign the Senate blue ribbon committee report on the COVID-19 supply procurement investigation, particularly the government’s controversial supply contracts with Pharmally, Senator Richard Gordon earlier said.
Also, he said 11 senators have already committed to sign the committee report.
For those who hesitate to sign the report, Gordon said their reluctance — for fear of offending President Duterte – “doesn’t look good.” They should sign the document for it to be discussed when senators come back after the elections, he added.
Gordon had refused to identify the senators who are reluctant to sign the report.
On Tuesday, Gordon released the draft partial committee report on the investigation into the transfer of P42-billion funds from the Department of Health (DOH) to the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service (PS-DBM).