Manila Bulletin
Gordon: Duterte 'covering his tracks' in overpriced COVID-19 supplies purchase
Senator Richard Gordon accused President Rodrigo Duterte of attempting to cover up alleged overpricing in the government's procurement of personal protective equipment (PPEs) and other equipment amid the pandemic.
Gordon stated that Duterte's actions, such as discouraging officials from attending Senate inquiries, amounted to 'covering his tracks' and 'inciting to sedition'.
The senator believes Duterte is protecting his people, exhibiting a 'false sense of leadership' and an absence of hands-on management.
Duterte has been lashing out at Gordon and other senators for digging up supposed irregularities on purchases made by the Department of Budget and Management's Procurement Service (DBM-PS) in behalf of the Department of Health (DOH).
Senators questioned the award of over P8 billion in contracts to a newly-registered foreign firm whose supplies are more expensive than those offered by local manufacturers.
They suspected plunder in the deals as they linked the executives of Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation to Duterte's former economic adviser and friend, businessman Michael Yang.
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President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to campaign against Senator Richard Gordon if he decides to run for public office in the upcoming elections, citing Gordon's unfitness to be a senator.
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President Rodrigo Duterte accused Senator Richard Gordon of using the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) as his "milking cow" to fund alleged election campaigns.
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President Rodrigo Duterte defended the government's multi-billion peso procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) last year, asserting that no corruption was involved.
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Vice President Leni Robredo criticized President Rodrigo Duterte's perceived lack of focus on the government's pandemic response, urging his administration to prioritize COVID-19 programs.
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Senator Franklin Drilon stated that Health Secretary Francisco Duque committed the "original sin" in the procurement of overpriced personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies in 2020.
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