FILE PHOTOS Senator Francis Pangilinan and Presidennt Duterte
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte’s “sorry” won’t do for Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan when it comes to guarding against corruption.
Duterte, in a taped public address, apologized over the perceived shortcomings of his government despite giving his “all.” The President, however, insisted he won’t tolerate senators conducting a probe into the use of COVID-19 response funds.
“Well, may mga batas tayo sa korapsyon na anti-graft, plunder. Sorry kung sorry, pero sorry din may mga batas tayo na kailangan ipatupad,” Pangilinan said in an interview over Teleradyo when sought to comment on Duterte’s remarks.
(Well, we have laws on corruption—anti-graft, plunder. If you’re sorry then you’re sorry but sorry too because we have laws to implement.)
“At sa bilyon-bilyong halaga na binubulsa o ino-overprice, alangan namang manood lang kami at magsabing, ‘Sige, pasensyahan tayo.’ Hindi pwede ‘to,” he added.
(With the multibillion public funds pocketed or overpriced, we can’t just sit here and say, okay, we understand. It can’t be that way.)
The President has repeatedly defended the government, particularly the Department of Health that is under hot waters for supposedly mishandling funds for the COVID-19 efforts.
Duterte even defended his former economic adviser and Chinese businessman Michael Yang who is supposedly linked to the company that bagged a bulk of government contracts during the pandemic.
At the same time, the President called on senators not to investigate ongoing programs of government agencies as they are only causing delays in its progress.
“Sana kung talagang galit sa corruption, bakit kami ang pinupuntirya? E nilapit lang sa amin ito. Nagrereklamo lang ang ating mga kababayan. Sa halip na tanggalin si Duque at magalit e dinedepensahan pa pati si Michael Yang,” Pangilinan said in reaction.
(If he really is mad about corruption, why is he picking on us? This was only brought to our attention. Our countrymen were only complaining. Instead of firing Duque and being mad, he’s even defending Michael Yang.)
“Nakakalungkot. Sa gitna pa ng pandemya na milyon na ang nagkakasakit, milyon din ang walang trabaho,” he added.
(It’s saddening. He’s doing this in the middle of a pandemic where millions have already gotten sick and millions have no jobs.)