MANILA, Philippines—Senator Manuel Roxas has identified the presidential adviser, who allegedly “engineered” the “conspiracy” between President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and multinational pharmaceutical firms to delay the imposition of maximum retail price (MRP) for essential medicines in the country.

Roxas identified the official as Roberto Romulo, executive director of the International Board of Advisers and also chairman of Zeullig Pharma Philippines, which controls 80 percent of the pharmaceutical industry in the Philippines.

Romulo’s posts indicate a clear case of conflict of interest, Roxas said.

“I believe that this conspiracy was engineered with the facilitation of an influential presidential adviser, who is also connected with one of the multinational pharmaceutical giants,” said Roxas in a statement Thursday.

The conspiracy he was referring to was the alleged closed-door meeting between the President and the multinational drug firms, which took place in Malacañang last Wednesday, where they supposedly agreed to defer the imposition of the MRP for 22 essential medicines.

At a press conference on Friday, Roxas castigated Arroyo for listening to her advisers, who have conflict of interest.

“The problem with President Arroyo is she listens to her presidential advisers, presidential assistants who have conflict of interest,” he said.

“Mrs. Arroyo, Madam President, please don’t listen to those who advise you not to sign it,” Roxas said. “Let’s do what our countrymen have been waiting for. Let us implement what’s in the law, let’s do what’s right.”

He also asked all presidential advisers to disclose whatever conflict of interest they have in the performance of their functions.

Roxas also demanded an explanation from the President about her Wednesday meeting in Malacañang.

“Are they lobbying that you forestall the implementation of the law? What are they asking from you? And what will you get in return?” he asked.