Gordon: 8 senators, so far, have signed Senate panel’s Pharmally report

MANILA, Philippines — Eight senators have so far signed the Senate blue ribbon committee’s report on the Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. controversy.

Senator Richard Gordon, chairperson of the Senate blue ribbon committee, disclosed this Monday following the release of the report which recommended the filing of charges against several Pharmally executives, former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang and former procurement head Christopher Lloyd Lao.

Gordon said the eight senators who have signed the report are himself, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Senators Manny Pacquiao, Panfilo Lacson, Koko Pimentel,  Risa Hontiveros, Francis Pangilinan Leila de Lima.

Lacson earlier clarified that while he signed the report, he has “strong reservations” over the comment in the said report that President Rodrigo Duterte “betrayed [the] public trust.”

Gordon said 11 senators, who are members of the blue ribbon committee, should sign the report so it can be brought to the plenary floor for debate.

Gordon said Senator Grace Poe also “promised to sign” the report, but said “she will still study it again.”

“It’s up to them, I’m not gonna blame them. All they have to do is sign and say ‘I will amend’ or ‘I will have my reservations’ or whatever,” Gordon said.

The blue ribbon chair also disclosed that Senator Pia Cayetano said she will sign the report.

“But all of a sudden hindi ko na siya (Cayetano) matawagan but I’m sure Pia will sign kung makausap ko ‘yan. But I could be wrong, I could always be wrong,” Gordon said.

In an earlier interview, Gordon said three senators are hesitant to sign the report because they want Duterte excluded from those who should be held accountable.

Asked if he is willing to remove the remarks against Duterte in the report for more senators to sign, Gordon said: “By that time, even if I say I’m not willing, they will ask for a division of the house, at pag natalo, talo ako and that’s the way it is.”

“What kind of a blue ribbon would you have and would there be a need for a blue ribbon if you are not going to make hard decisions? Second, can anybody in this country na nanuod at nagbasa… can anybody not think that he (Duterte) doesn’t know anything about it?” Gordon added.

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