Tag: PS-DBM

Posted on

On Ex-DOH Sec. Duque’s Claim that Former President Duterte Ordered Transfer of P47.6B Covid Funds to PS-DBM

Image from Presidential Communications Office

Hindi lang napakalaki kundi complicated ang implication ng pahayag ni ex-DOH Sec. Francisco Duque III lalo na sa legal na usapin.

Dapat ay linawin niya kung iniutos arbitrarily ni former President Rodrigo Duterte or he merely acted on the recommendation of DOH, PhilHealth or IATF sa pag-transfer ng P47 bilyon sa PS-DBM.

Una, may umiiral na jurisprudence (Arias vs Sandiganbayan) na kung saan inaabswelto sa criminal liability ang isang pinuno ng ahensya ng gobyerno kapag siya ay nag-apruba lamang ng rekomendasyon ng kanyang mga tauhan kahit mali pa ito.

That being said, may isinampa nang kaso ang Ombudsman in relation to the Pharmally case na inimbestigahan namin noon sa Senado. Ginawa lang ba ni Duque ito para pangdepensa sa sarili niya? Hindi naman kasi binanggit ni Duque noon ang pagdawit niya ngayon kay FPRRD.

*****

Posted on

On the Implication of Former PS-DBM Officials in the Pharmally Procurement Scandal

While somebody whose name was prominently and repeatedly mentioned during the Senate hearings as the alleged financier of the syndicate is apparently missing in the list of those recommended for indictment, it is still good enough to commend the Ombudsman for this latest development.

That being said, I am willing to concede that maybe the evidence is not sufficient to establish probable cause against him.

*****

Posted on

On the BIR Probe of 45 Suppliers that Bagged Contracts from PS-DBM

Whatever comes out of the subsequent criminal and administrative investigations being undertaken by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the prosecutors, one thing is clear: Contrary to the President’s earlier assertions, Senate inquiries definitely serve the purpose of making those abusing public funds accountable and liable for their misdeeds – not to mention the laws that may be crafted thereafter.

Both the BIR and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) should pursue their mandate under existing laws to run after all the shenanigans and their co-conspirators in government.

That said, it remains to be seen how the Executive Department will act on the findings of the investigation.

*****

Posted on

Ping: Pagtugon ng Pamahalaan sa Delta Variant Pinalubha ng Korapsyon

Hindi na nga sapat ay lalo pang pinalupaypay ng korapsyon ang pagtugon ng gobyerno sa lumalalang pananalasa ng Delta variant ng COVID-19.

Ito ang nagdadalamhating pahayag ni Senador Panfilo Lacson sa kasalukuyang estado ng mga hakbang ng pamahalaan sa paglaban sa pandemya kasabay ng pagsasalarawan na nakakapanlumo, nakakadismaya at nakakagigil ang mga nalalantad sa imbestigasyon ng Senado sa mga iregularidad sa pagbili ng mga gamit sa paglaban sa COVID-19.

Isiniwalat ni Lacson sa panayam sa kanya ng ANC na kabilang sa mga iregularidad na ito ay ang nabigong pagtatangka ni dating Department of Budget and Management Procurement Service head Christopher Lao para i-reclassify bilang “confidential” sa ilang mga empleyado ng ahensya.

“While the Delta variant is to be blamed, ang ma-blame mo rin government response. We’re not responding accordingly sa prevailing situation. To make matters worse, may corruption involved. Naroon ang problema,” ayon kay Lacson.

Continue reading “Ping: Pagtugon ng Pamahalaan sa Delta Variant Pinalubha ng Korapsyon”

Posted on

Lacson: Corruption Worsening Government Response to Delta Variant

Corruption is weighing down the government’s already insufficient response to the heightened threat from COVID-19 due to the Delta variant of the coronavirus, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson lamented Thursday.

Lacson described as “disheartening, frustrating and revolting” the signs of corruption that have emerged so far in the Senate’s investigation into irregularities in the procurement of medical supplies to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

These irregularities range from the failed attempt of former Department of Budget and Management Procurement Service head Christopher Lao to reclassify some employees as “confidential” to the Food and Drug Administration’s changing the rules on procurement, Lacson said in an interview on ANC.

“While the Delta variant is to be blamed, ang ma-blame mo rin government response. We’re not responding accordingly sa prevailing situation. To make matters worse, may corruption involved. Naroon ang problema (While the Delta variant is to be blamed for our situation now, government response is not free from blame because we’re not responding accordingly to the prevailing situation. To make matters worse, there is corruption involved. There lies the problem),” he said.

Continue reading “Lacson: Corruption Worsening Government Response to Delta Variant”