Senate Blue Ribbon inquiry says the President will not tolerate corruption within the Government

MANILA – Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Tuesday said he is certain that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte won’t tolerate any form of corruption in the government.

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa (File photo)

Dela Rosa made this comment during the Senate Blue Ribbon inquiry into the alleged overpriced personal protective equipment (PPE), face shields, and other medical supplies in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

“In fairness to President Duterte, I’ve known him for 35 years. I know that when one of his men get involved in corruption, he will be removed immediately,” dela Rosa said.

He added that even former Special Assistant to the President and now Senator Christopher “Bong” Go won’t allow himself to be used by anyone to influence government transactions on the purchase of medical supplies.

"In fairness to him [Go], he will not stay long with the President if he has been doing illegal because I know President Duterte will not really allow to have corruption,” dela Rosa said.

Legitimate transactions

During the hearing conducted by the Senate blue ribbon committee, former Department of Budget, and Management (DBM) Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao said all the transactions involving the purchase Covid-19 emergency supplies at the onset of the pandemic are legitimate.

Lao made this response when asked by dela Rosa if the former DBM-Procurement Service (PS-DBM) chief received kickbacks in government contracts for the purchase of PPE set, face masks and other medical supplies.

“I did not receive kickbacks. These are all legitimate transactions; they are all multiple companies. Those are series of transactions for emergencies,” Lao responded.

Lao added that Go did not give him instruction to give preference to Pharmally Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

“I would like to explain to the public so that everybody will know. Pharmally did not supply PPEs of these items to PS-DBM outright.  Because there was no supply,” Lao said.

Since there was no supply of PPE set in the first few months of the pandemic, Lao said the government reached out to China using diplomatic channels.

“And China responded.  So that is why foreign companies supplied to us first. Then later, Pharmally came in. So, it’s a series of event,” he added.

Lao said the PS-DBM had to purchase face masks from Pharmally as local supplier EMS Components Assembly could only supply face masks by June 2020.

"When we had a contract with EMS already, we stopped procurement from any entity except EMS," he said. (PNA)