Duterte: No overpricing in procurement of Covid-19 vaccines

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday hit back at those claiming to have stopped overpricing or corruption in the government’s Covid-19 vaccine procurement, saying they were creating confusion when no wrongdoing has been committed.

“I take exception to the statement that they were able to prevent corruption or an overprice because of their vigilance. No. Far from it actually. You were just muddling up … you’re just creating confusion,” Mr. Duterte said in his public address.

The President did not name names, but Sen. Panfilo Lacson earlier said the government could have lost P16.8 billion from the overpricing of Covid-19 vaccines had it not been for the Senate probe on the issue.

The Senate had grilled health officials and Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., who is in charge of vaccine procurement.

Mr. Duterte castigated those who claimed corruption and called on them to come forward as he would like to talk to them.

“Whoever said that, please rise and be brave enough to say that you are the one. I’d like to talk to you, just the two of us,” he said. INQ

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