Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros —Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB
MANILA, Philippines — Former health chief Francisco Duque III could have been the “new matter” needed to push the Senate’s blue ribbon panel to reopen its investigation into the Pharmally scandal, said Senator Risa Hontiveros.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Hontiveros said they have been “wanting” to reopen the investigation for a long time now, but they are waiting for what she called “new matter” involving the case.
READ: Duterte ordered transfer of P47.6 billion COVID funds to PS-DBM – Duque
In this scenario, she said Duque could have been the witness needed to reopen the probe. The former health chief, however, insisted that his earlier remarks—confirming that former President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the transfer of funds meant for procurement of COVID-19 supplies during the pandemic—was taken out of context.
“A new resource person or whistleblower or new evidence. In that case, it could have been former Sec. Duque, right? But a few hours later, he retracted his statement,” Hontiveros told reporters.
READ: Graft raps set vs Lao, 12 others in Pharmally mess
Criticism
Duque received the senator’s criticism after his retraction. According to Hontiveros, the card that Duque pulled is an old excuse in the book, especially for those who are working in the public sphere.
“Well if he now refuses to be part of finding the whole truth, it’s really his loss. Mostly it’s the loss of the Philippines and us Filipinos. But it’s also a loss for former Secretary Duque because he will never be a part of that,” she said.
But while the Senate is still waiting for another “new matter” that may be used to reopen the investigation, the Senator assured the public that other government and constitutional bodies are doing its mandate.
“No matter how long it takes, my faith remains that we will get behind the truth and we will be able to make those individuals behind this (scandal) accountable,” Hontiveros emphasized.
Asked if she is pertaining to Duterte, the opposition Senator just noted that if sufficient evidence proves that he ordered the fund transfer and that he is complicit in such dubious procurements, then it is the Senate’s duty to make him accountable.
The Pharmally mess is dubbed as the country’s biggest corruption scandal during the pandemic.
It involved the selling of overpriced medical supplies such as face masks, face shields, and other equipment used during the pandemic to the government.