Palace: Senate probe on Pharmally mess will ‘absolutely not’ lead to Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Monday expressed confidence that the Senate investigation on the Pharmally fiasco will not lead to President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Absolutely not,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing when asked if the Senate would find evidence linking Duterte to alleged anomalies involving Pharmally.

“Wala naman po silang ebidensya na nakukuha na overpriced. Sinabi na ng COA [Commission on Audit], walang overpriced. So anong malilink kay Presidente? Ingay lang po,” he added.

(They did not get any evidence about overpricing. The COA said there’s no overpricing. So what can they link to the President? It’s just noise.)

While no names were mentioned during the briefing, Senator Panfilo Lacson earlier vowed to continue following on evidence over the controversial government purchases made from Pharmally even if it leads all the way to Malacañang.

Meanwhile, Roque assured that the President will not tolerate deception if allegations that face shields with false production dates delivered to the country are proven true.

READ: Pharmally employee believes firm ‘swindled’ gov’t in delivery of face shields

“Meron po silang sinasabi na tampering of manfacturing date. Tignan po natin kung merong katotohanan ‘yan. Kung mapapatunayan naman ‘yan, the President will not tolerate that kung talagang nangyari po yan,” Roque said.

(They are now talking about this tampering of manufacturing dates. Let’s see if there’s any truth to that. If proven, the President will not tolerate if such a thing indeed happened.)

Roque also said he is leaving it up to the Department of Justice to decide if it will investigate the recent revelations in the Senate blue ribbon committee hearings on the government’s procurement of pandemic supplies last year.

KGA