THE chief prober in the ongoing Senate inquiry of P11 billion in Pharmally contracts to supply masks and face shields signalled Sunday that senators have no intention of needlessly prolonging the inquiry into the Duterte administration’s use of pandemic funds.
However, the Senate Blue Ribbon panel is committed to render a complete report to give the people the true picture on the supply contracts for face masks and face shields, as well as test kits for Covid-19, bagged by Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp., according to Senator Richard Gordon, Blue Ribbon chairman.
Also on Sunday, 13 major business and sectoral groups reminded “all parties to pursue and cooperate with this investigation to the fullest extent allowed by law. Our frontliners and the Filipino people deserve a full and fair accounting.”
The groups, in a statement joined by several leading universities, said the context—it being a pandemic where resources are scarce and people dying—“would make the wrongdoing particularly onerous and deserving of the full force of sanctions on its perpetrators that our justice system provides,” if the allegations raised in the hearings are proven correct.
Gordon also made it clear in a radio interview, when asked for comment on President Duterte’s order barring Cabinet members from further appearing in Senate hearings, “We [senators] respect Cabinet members asked to appear before the Senate.”
He, however, invoked a provision in the law that “if called to appear and you do not, you are liable for contempt.”
Still, Gordon hastened to assure that “we are not asking for their arrest,” but noted that the Revised Penal Code can be invoked if they ignored the invitation.
“They [witnesses invited to testify at Senate inquiry] will not be arrested but they can be charged for disobedience under the Revised Penal Code if they ignore Senate summons,” added Gordon, speaking in a mix of English and Filipino.
At the same time, the senator said the focus of the probe by the Committee on Public Accountability is guided by the rule that “all laws require due diligence, even in calamity.”
Meanwhile, in their “Statement on Investigation of PPE Purchases,” the 13 big sectoral and business groups said: “The allegations, testimonies, and documents provided regarding the use of public funds meant to acquire items to minimize the threat to the lives of our citizens occasioned by the pandemic are very sobering.”
If these are proven untrue, “the public may view it as yet another exercise in politically motivated drama but, sadly in this case, would be another blow to the unity and faith we need to fight and recover from the pandemic.”
Thus, the groups urged “all parties to pursue and cooperate with this investigation to the fullest extent allowed by law.”
The groups urged “lawmakers, members of the Executive department, constitutional commissions and, if they are brought in, members of the judiciary to conduct their proceedings with integrity, transparency, and respect, and in compliance with our laws and established procedures.”
The signatories were: Bishops-Businessmen’s Conference, Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, Investment Houses Association of the Philippines, Judicial Reform Initiative, Management Association of the Philippines, Makati Business Club, Shareholders’ Association of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, Ateneo de Naga University, Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, De La Salle University, De La Salle Philippines.
Biz, sectoral groups seek ‘full, fair accounting’ in Pharmally investigation
Source: News Paper Radio
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