Padilla: No law violated by ex-president Duterte in COVID fund transfer

FILE PHOTO: President Rodrigo Duterte speaks as Health Secretary Francisco Duque III gazes at him in a previous briefing in Malacañang. On Monday, June 3, 2024, former Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said it was then-President Rodrigo Duterte who ordered the transfer of P47.6 billion in COVID-19 funds from the Department of Health (DOH) to the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) in 2020. Based on a Commission on Audit (COA) report, the P47.6-billion COVID-19 fund includes PS-DBM contracts with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp., which was accused of selling overpriced face masks, face shields, and other equipment used during the pandemic. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — No law was violated when former President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the transfer of P47.6 billion in COVID-19 funds from the Department of Health (DOH) to the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) in 2020, according to Senator Robinhood Padilla.

In a statement on Sunday, Padilla said the previous chief executive was given “emergency powers to deal with the crisis at the time.”

READ: Duterte ordered transfer of P47.6 billion COVID funds to PS-DBM – Duque

“Si dating Pangulo Rodrigo Roa Duterte ay walang nilabag na batas at sa katotohanan batay po sa Seksyon 4 ng Bayanihan Law 1 (RA 11469) na nagbubukod sa mga pagbili ng personal protective equipment (PPEs) mula sa procurement law at iba pang nauugnay na batas at alinsunod sa Government Procurement Policy Board Resolution na may petsang Abril 6, 2020 ,” he said.

(Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte violated no law. This is based on Section 4 of the Bayanihan Law that excludes PPEs from the procurement law, as well as a Government Procurement Policy Board Resolution dated April 6, 2020)

Last June 3, former Health Secretary Francisco Duque III told the House committee on appropriations that he transferred some P47.6 billion to the PS-DBM to purchase Covid supplies, upon the order of Duterte.

A Commission on Audit (COA) report revealed that PS-DBM contracts include one with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp., which was accused of selling overpriced medical supplies such as face masks, face shields, and other equipment used during the pandemic.

But Padilla said the government at the time, “like any other government,” had to spend “to beat the pandemic.”

“Katulad ng ibang mga bansa tunay na sumuka ng salapi ang lahat ng gobyerno, ang karamihan ay katulad natin na nangutang para mapagtagumpayan ang pandemic ng COVID,” he said.

(Other countries whose governments spent much to beat the pandemic. Many, like us, had to borrow funds for this purpose)

“Kailangan ba talaga magbatuhan ng putik sa oras na ang Inangbayan ay nasa bingit ng tatahaking kapalara)?” Padilla added.

(Must we resort to mudslinging at a time when the country is in peril?)