Isko Moreno: COVID-19 funds ‘wrongfully spent’
Isko Moreno Domagoso
MANILA, Philippines — Public funds for the country’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic were “wrongfully spent,” Manila City mayor and presidential candidate Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said Tuesday.
Moreno said more funds could have been used for buying COVID-19 medicine and improving facilities that would cater to patients hit by the disease, hitting anew government’s decision to procure more face shields “without scientific evidence.”
“It was wrongfully spent,” Moreno said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel when asked if he believes public funds could have been spent better.
“Ang gusto ko, bumili ka ng tocilizumab. Ang gusto ko bumili ka ng remdesivir. Ang gusto ko bumili ka ng oxygen. Those infected, ilagay natin sa mga pasilidad, magtayo ka ng ospital para sa COVID, ilagay natin ang mga infected, give them ample care, give them proper care. Then we move on (with) our lives, learn to live with COVID-19,” Moreno said.
(What I wanted was for us to purchase more tocilizumab and remdesivir, and buy more oxygen tanks. Let’s put those infected in facilities, build hospitals specifically for COVID. Give the patients ample and proper care. Then we move on with our lives, learn to live with COVID-19.)
“I disagree with the use of public funds on such unnecessary expenditures, if you’re going to ask me again,” he added.
Moreno likewise said that if found guilty, those involved in the alleged anomalous COVID-19 supplies deals with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. should be charged.
“If they were found guilty, I’ll charge them. That’s the rule of law. I’m not a judge. I don’t want to judge people. It’s only the court who will tell who’s guilty or not,” Moreno said.
“But whatever crimes they have, it should not stop in the Senate. People should be charged if they find there is liability,” he added.
Senator Richard Gordon ealier released the Senate blue ribbon committee’s partial findings which included the recommendation of possible charges against Pharmally executives, former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang and former procurement head Christopher Lloyd Lao.
