Duque ‘liable’ for graft over DOH purchase mess – Gordon

(FILE) Sen. Richard J. Gordon. (Screen grab/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — Health Secretary Francisco Duque III may be liable for the procurement issues now hounding the Department of Health (DOH), Senator Richard Gordon said Wednesday.

Gordon is leading the Senate blue ribbon committee’s investigation into the DOH’s handling of pandemic funds after state auditors flagged “deficiencies” in its utilization.

Senators during the inquiry zeroed in on the DOH’s transfer of P42 billion to the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service (DBM-PS) for the procurement of pandemic response supplies in 2020.

During Friday’s hearing, senators quizzed the DOH on whether the face shields it purchased from the DBM-PS were the same ones it bought using its own funds.

“He’s liable for anti-graft right away,” Gordon said during an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel when asked what case may be filed against Duque over the DOH’s alleged “double payment” to the DBM-PS.

“Even if he were negligent, you’re still liable because you caused damage to the Filipino people in such a very bad situation,” the senator went on.

“And all these guys involved,  talagang super plunder. Because really it shows planned plunder,” he added.

INQUIRER.net reached out to Duque for his comment on Gordon’s remarks. In response, the health chief sent a DOH statement denying it made “double payments” to the DBM-PS.

“There were no double payments to the PS-DBM…The PS-DBM maintains a virtual store, similar to online shopping platforms, where common-use supplies and equipment, like PPEs, are available for the purchase of National Government Agencies and local government units,” the statement read.

/MUF