Sotto denies Roque's 'war-like' Senate hearing claim

Senate President Vicente Sotto III refuted claims made by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque that senators exhibited a "war-like" demeanor during the inquiry into the government's COVID-19 immunization program.

Sotto described Roque's statement as "imbento" or fabricated, questioning if Roque had indeed watched the entire nine-hour hearing.

Roque had previously stated that senators displayed a "war-like" and "bellicose-like" attitude towards executive officials during the committee hearing.

During the hearing, senators sought to scrutinize the government's vaccine negotiations but were unable to obtain exact pricing due to non-disclosure agreements invoked by officials.

Sotto clarified that while senators may have been argumentative, they were not "war-like," and questioned if Roque expected them to treat resource persons with excessive gentleness.

The Senate President urged Roque not to invent situations that did not occur, emphasizing that both branches of government are working towards the welfare of Filipinos in the vaccine rollout.