MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday called on the public not to readily believe allegations of corruption in the government, especially now that it is in the process of procuring vaccines against Covid-19.
He said those who have been alleging corruption in the government have not been successful in sending corrupt officials to jail.
“I just ask the people to, next time, do not be so gullible and basta maniwala na lang kayo and talk about corruption left and right. It starts with the big bang and it ends with a whimper,” he said in his weekly public address.
(Do not be so gullible and just readily believe and talk about corruption left and right.)
“Wala naman napakulong ‘yang mga ‘yan, ‘yung napakulong on the basis of their investigation, wala ‘yan,” the President added.
(They have not been able to send anybody to jail on the basis of their investigations.)
He also urged the public to let the government finish its projects since liabilities or anomalies will eventually be later found out.
“Patapusin lang ninyo kami. Tutal if there is liability in one, there will be liability in all. If there’s an anomaly in the start, then verily the end of whatever project is undertaken or activity is always there,” Duterte said.
The public can either believe in these allegations or believe in the government, Duterte said.
“Kung may maiwan na maniwala sa amin, just keep faith with us. At the end of the day, you will see that everything has been done in accordance with the rule of law,” Duterte said.
The President has denied corruption in the government’s procurement of the vaccine, saying that the public should “just stick with” vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr.
He said the funds used in procuring the vaccine are not with Galvez nor any government officials but are with the banks.
“You can talk of billions, gawin mo nang trillion, kasi wala talagang pera, ang pera nasa bangko. Wala tayong inipon na pera para diyan lang kasi hindi natin alam na ‘yung Covid dadating sa buhay natin,” Duterte said.
(You can talk of billions, or even trillions because the funds are not with us, but with the banks. We did not allot funds for vaccine procurement because we did not know that Covid will happen to us.)