Robredo on Senate Pharmally probe: Stick to facts, no personal insults

Vice President Leni Robredo INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Saturday reminded the personalities involved in the ongoing Senate Pharmally probe to just stick to the facts and avoid exchanging personal insults.

“Kapag ang discussion kasi binababa sa level na personal, hindi siya nakakatulong. So sa akin, may mga isyu na inihain sa Senado, ang pinakamagandang pangontra nito, sagutin,” Robredo told reporters.

(When the discussion is lowered to a personal level, it does not help. So for me, there are issues that are being heard in the Senate, the best way to address them is to answer them.)

“Kasi kung hindi totoo, at least nakikita natin na ‘yong lahat na sides napapagbigyan. Pero kung merong mga complaints, tapos ang sagot personal, insulto, hindi siya nakakatulong—nakaka-aggravate pa siya,” she added.

(Because if it’s not true, then at least we can see that all sides have been heard. But if there are complaints, and the answer is personal or is an insult, it doesn’t help — it only aggravates.)

According to Robredo, those who resort to personal insults should be reminded that the country is still struggling against the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Kasi kung totoo ‘yong mga paratang na grabe ‘yong korupsyon at the height of the pandemic, hindi ‘yon forgivable, kasi ang dami na nating mga kababayang namatay,” said Robredo.

(If the allegation of serious corruption is true, it is not forgivable at the height of this pandemic because so many of our countrymen have died.)

“Pero sana, sana ‘yong debate tungkol sa facts of the case, hindi ‘yong kung ano-ano, hindi ‘yong insulto sa personal,” Robredo added.

(But hopefully, the debate will stick to the facts of the case and not on personal insults.)

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which is being chaired by Senator Richard Gordon, is currently conducting an investigation into the P8.6-billion worth government deals awarded by the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service to Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. last year despite the firm being only several months old, with just P625,000 in paid-up capital.

President Rodrigo Duterte has since unleashed a series of rants against the Senate probe, in defense of Pharmally. Duterte even took potshots at some senators, including Gordon and Senator Panfilo Lacson.

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