At least three senators are hesitating to sign the Senate blue ribbon committee report on the COVID-19 supply procurement investigation, particularly the government’s controversial supply contracts with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp., Senator Richard Gordon said Saturday.
“The three are still pondering over whether they should introduce amendments, for fear of dragging President Rodrigo Duterte into the anomaly,” Gordon said in an interview over ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.
Also, he said 11 senators have already committed to sign the committee report.
For those who hesitate to sign the report, Gordon said their reluctance—for fear of offending President Duterte—“doesn’t look good.” They should sign the document for it to be discussed when senators come back after the elections, he added.
Gordon had refused to identify the senators who are reluctant to sign the report.
On Tuesday, Gordon released the draft partial committee report on the investigation into the transfer of P42-billion funds from the Department of Health (DOH) to the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service (PS-DBM).
The panel’s draft report said President Duterte has betrayed the public trust with his actions related to the government’s controversial multi-billion-peso supply contracts with Pharmally.
The Senate committee also recommended plunder, graft, and other criminal and administrative charges against Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, former government officials, and Pharmally executives.
Gordon has expressed confidence the draft partial report on the COVID-19 supply procurement investigation released by the blue ribbon committee will get the support of other senators.
