Hontiveros: Duque could be new witness in Pharmally probe

Senator Risa Hontiveros suggested that former Health Secretary Francisco Duque III could have served as a new witness to reopen the Senate's investigation into the Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation procurement mess.

Hontiveros explained that the Senate blue ribbon committee was looking for new matters, resource persons, whistleblowers, or evidence to justify reopening the probe.

Duque had previously testified that the transfer of over P41 billion to the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management was done under the directive of then-President Rodrigo Duterte.

However, Duque later clarified that his statement regarding the former president's approval was taken out of context, which Hontiveros criticized as an old excuse.

Hontiveros expressed that if Duque refuses to be part of finding the truth, it would be his loss, as well as the loss of the Philippines.