LIVE UPDATES: Senate, House hearings on pandemic deals and Pharmally

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

The Senate and House of Representatives are investigating the Philippine government’s questionable deals during the COVID-19 pandemic, putting President Rodrigo Duterte on the defensive as the country prepares to elect his successor in May 2022.

At the center of the controversy is the two-year-old firm Pharmally, which bagged over P8 billion ($159.62 million) worth of COVID-19 contracts.

Pharmally, which has links to Duterte’s former economic adviser Michael Yang, won these deals even if it lacked the track record and credibility to engage in big-ticket government procurement.

Bookmark and refresh this page to watch livestreams, read news articles, and follow other updates on the Pharmally hearings at the Senate and the House of Representatives. – Rappler.com

LATEST UPDATES

Sep 17, 2021 1:42 PM PHT

Gordon claps back at Duterte: ‘You are a cheap politician, Mr. President!’

Senator Richard Gordon doubled down on his criticism of President Rodrigo Duterte, calling him “cheap” for attacking the ongoing probe into anomalous pandemic contracts linked to businessmen close to Duterte.

On Friday, September 17, Gordon lambasted the President for defending his embattled former economic adviser Michael Yang and ex-budget undersecretary Lloyd Christpher Lao, who are both embroiled in the questionable deals the government entered into with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation in 2020 and 2021.

“I am really sorry for you, Mr. President. Ang ipinagtatanggol ’nyo si Lao? May utang na loob kayo dahil sa eleksiyon? You are a cheap politician, Mr. President. Cheap politician, as cheap as they come, Mr. President. I’m sorry,” said Gordon as he presided over the blue ribbon committee’s seventh hearing on the pandemic contracts.

Read the full story here.

Sep 15, 2021 4:52 PM PHT

Congressmen amplify Duterte gov’t defense on questionable Pharmally deals

Lawmakers at the House committee on good government and public accountability – in contrast with senators – on Wednesday, September 15, all but gave the microphone to the Duterte government in its probe into the questioned procurement for health supplies.

Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta – a prospective senatorial bet of the administration in 2022 – was the loudest voice in support of the government, repeatedly saying that there was no corruption, no anomaly, and no ghost deliveries.

Read the full story here.

Sep 15, 2021 3:08 PM PHT

How Duterte’s Bayanihan and ex-DBM chief Avisado’s circular can protect PS-DBM

Although emergency procurements are bound by different rules, President Rodrigo Duterte’s Bayanihan 1 and a circular subsequently passed by the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) seem to protect the now controversial Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM).

Overall Deputy Ombudsman Warren Liong faced the House of Representatives on Wednesday, September 15, to repeat the blanket defense of the PS-DBM – that they are exempt from the rules of Procurement Law or Republic Act 9184 because of Duterte’s Bayanihan 1.

Liong, who was a PS-DBM director under Lloyd Christopher Lao, spoke for the first time in congressional hearings to defend the questioned procurements.

Read the full story here.