Padilla defends Duterte on P47.6B COVID fund transfer

Senator Robinhood Padilla stated that former President Rodrigo Duterte did not break any laws when he authorized the transfer of P47.6 billion in COVID-19 funds to the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM).

Padilla cited Section 4 of the Bayanihan Law (Republic Act 11469), which authorized the president to order the procurement of medical supplies during the health emergency.

He also mentioned that the former president had been granted emergency powers to effectively manage the crisis during that period.

This defense comes after former Health Secretary Francisco Duque III testified about the order, and Duque and a former Budget official are now facing graft charges before the Ombudsman over the fund transfer.