Robredo’s spox: Corruption in Pharmally deal should be exposed

Atty. Barry Gutierrez, Vice President Leni Robredo’s spokesperson, talks about current issues during the BISErbisyong LENI program on DZXL.

MANILA, Philippines — The alleged corruption in the government’s transactions with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. over the purchase of alleged overpriced medical supplies, should be exposed,  said Atty. Barry Gutierrez, the spokesperson of Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday.

“Sa tingin ko dapat magalit tayo lahat. Lalo na kung opisyal ka, ‘di ba dapat magalit ka at dapat pa-imbestiga mo talaga ‘yan. Suportahan mo na lumabas talaga ‘yung buong katotohanan tapos kasuhan at habulin ‘yung mga taong responsable,” Gutierrez said over DZXL during the BISErbisyong LENI program.

(I think we should all be angry especially if you’re an official, right? You have to be angry and you should have it investigated. Support to have the truth uncovered, file a case, and go after those responsible.)

“Kaya nakakagulat na parang ‘yung mga ibang hakbang, imbis na sumuporta, imbis na tumulong — gaya nga ng sinabi niyo — parang tila ano pa pagtatakip ‘di ba? O at least parang pinapahirapan ‘yung imbestigasyon. ‘Yun ang kailangan nating lalong bantayan,” he added.

(It is shocking to know that there are now measures to cover up the investigation, instead of helping it. Measures to make the investigation difficult. We have to keep watch on it.)

Gutierrez was reacting to the apparent stand of President Rodrigo Duterte to shield those involved in the Phramally deal. An investigation into the deal is currently ongoing at the Senate.

“Si pangulo mismo, ilang beses niya sinabi ‘di ba, hindi siya magto-tolerate daw ng kahit na whiff of corruption ‘di ba? Ibig sabihin kahit na kaunting katiting na duda ‘di ba na mayroong korupsyon, hindi niya papayagan ‘di ba? Kaagad-agad niyang kikilusan. Sana ganun ang mangyari dito ‘di ba sa isyung ito,” Gutierrez said.

(The president himself many times said that he will not tolerate any whiff of corruption. It means even the slightest doubt, he’ll not allow it, right? He will respond to it. I hope that will happen in this issue.)

“Hindi talaga katanggap-tanggap na sa kabila ng lahat ng pinagdadaanan natin bilang isang bansa, sa lahat ng mga taong nagkakasakit at namamatay, sa lahat ng mga taong nawalan ng trabaho at naghihintay ng ayuda. Madaming hindi nakatanggap. Nahihirapan silang pakainin ang kanilang mga pamilya eh ganito kalaking ano, bilyon-bilyong piso, ninanakaw ‘di ba? Lantarang inaamin, ‘oo, sinwindle (swindle) namin ang gobyerno,’ Grabe,” he added.

(It’s not acceptable that of all the sacrifices the country faced, the people who got sick and died, those who lost jobs and waiting for aid. Many have not received assistance. They’re having a hard time feeding their family then there would be billions stolen. The company even admitted that they swindled the government.)

The government awarded Pharmally with multi-billion-peso contracts for the delivery of COVID-19 response supplies and items despite only having a paid-up capital of only P625,000.

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