Sen. Richard Gordon in one of the Senate online hearings. Screen grab/Senate PRIB file photo
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Richard Gordon on Tuesday called out “trolls” as he opened the resumption of the Senate blue ribbon committee’s investigation into the government’s use of pandemic funds.
“Shoutout na rin po sa mga trolls na nanonood at nagre-review ng mga script nila. Alam po naming hanapbuhay ninyo iyan at ginagawa nyo po iyan para kumita para [sa] inyong mga mahal sa buhay, pero sana po ay magbagong buhay na po kayo,” Gordon said.
“Marami pong trabahong marangal,” he added.
The committee’s investigation has garnered support from medical professionals, who said that the executive branch should not bar Cabinet members from attending the probe.
“I thank everyone for the overwhelming outpour of support and words of encouragement in this search for the truth,” Gordon said.
“At sa inyo pong lahat na sumusubaybay sa atin pong mga hearing, maraming salamat po,” he added.
The blue-ribbon committee has been investigating the government’s purchases of medical goods, including allegedly overpriced face masks, shields, and other supplies, at the height of the pandemic last year.
During the course of the inquiry, senators have repeatedly questioned the Department of Health’s transfer of P42 billion to the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management for the procurement of pandemic response supplies in 2020.
A portion of this amount went to over P8.6 billion worth of contracts awarded to Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp.
Senators doubted the financial capacity of the firm since it was only established in 2019 with a small capital of P625,000 when it secured the supply deals.
“Sa ating imbestigasyon, malinaw po ang unwarranted benefits o favoritism sa Pharmally,” Gordon went on.
“Kung maayos at malinis ang pamimili ay sana mas marami po dapat nabiling gamit, natipid na pera, at nasalbang buhay,” he added.