Sotto: No stopping Blue Ribbon from probing alleged gov’t misuse of funds for COVID-19

BACOLOD CITY––Senate President Vicente Sotto III said there was no stopping the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee from hearing the government’s alleged misuse of funds for the fight against COVID-19.

The Blue Ribbon Committee chaired by Senator Richard Gordon, he said, was expected to come out with its report in October or September.

“Any investigation as long as the truth comes out will not harm the nation,” Sotto said during a press conference Thursday with Senator Panfilo Lacson at The Ruins in Talisay City, Negros Occidental.

“I don’t see why we should stop the investigation in the Senate when we know very well that we cannot see how the money is being spent,” Sotto said.

Lacson expressed dismay about the “sorry state of our country today.”

“In the middle of a pandemic, some people still have the guts to earn so much money. Our priority should be to attend to our people’s needs,” said Lacson, who earlier announced his plan to run for president in next year’s polls.

President Duterte has barred Cabinet officials from attending the Blue Ribbon Committee hearings without his approval.

He also instructed Solicitor General Jose Calida to audit the finances of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) headed by Gordon.

Lacson, however, said COA could not audit PRC because it is not a government entity.

lzb