Malacañang: “Mahirap magsalita about it kasi wala rin kaming official copy.”
MALACAÑANG — The Palace preferred to wait for Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s final and official report on the government’s deal with pharmaceutical firm Pharmally before taking action, saying that the initial report that was released last February 1 had not been adopted.
Cabinet Secretary and acting Presidential Spokesperson Karlo Nograles made the statement after the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee found President Rodrigo Duterte “betrayed public trust” in connection with actions related to the government’s deal with Pharmally to acquire COVID-19 equipment in 2019.
Nograles said in an interview on ANC “Headstart” on Wednesday, February 2, that the Palace can’t comment on the initial report just yet.
“It’s just, right now, something that we cannot really comment kasi hindi pa naman ‘yan official and it’s just a partial report,” Nograles said. “Mahirap magsalita about it kasi wala rin kaming official copy.”
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee said that charges against the President should be dealt with after he stepped down from Malacañang, citing his immunity to suit as the country’s president.
Aside from the President, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee recommended graft, plunder, and other criminal and administrative charges against Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Phamarlly executives, and other former government officials.
Likewise, it called for the deportation of Chinese businessman Michael Yang.
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During his interview on Wednesday morning, the acting Palace spokesman reiterated that the President wasn’t defending anyone.
According to Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s initial report, the President “betrayed public trust” when he banned Cabinet officials from attending hearings.
The acting Palace spokesman came to Duterte’s defense, saying that the President already gave the Senate the opportunity to question his officials.
Likewise, Nograles said that the President’s order preventing Cabinet officials from attending hearings was a question of law and was pending at the Supreme Court.
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