Dating Health Sec. Francisco Duque lll, umamin na si dating Pres. Rodrigo Duterte ang nag-utos noong pandemic na ilipat sa PS-DBM ang pondo para sa pagbili ng iba't ibang COVID-19 supplies.
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00:00 The House Appropriations Committee explained to the former officials of the health department
00:05 how they used the agency's funds.
00:08 In their hearing, former Health Secretary Francisco Duque, III,
00:12 who was former President Rodrigo Duterte,
00:14 ordered the pandemic to transfer the DOH's funds to PSDBM
00:18 for the purchase of various COVID-19 supplies.
00:23 That's what Melales Moras said.
00:26 Secretary, I'm sorry, let's be friends. Don't make us go around.
00:33 The question is very simple. It can be answerable by the name of the person or the name of the committee.
00:38 Or if you're the one who ordered it, there's no problem.
00:41 The former and current secretaries of the Department of Health
00:45 faced the continuation of the House Committee on Appropriations
00:49 regarding the agency's budget utilization
00:52 in the past years and their contribution to the COVID-19 pandemic.
00:58 At the beginning of the discussion,
01:00 former Health Secretary Francisco Duque, III,
01:03 immediately commented on the graph charges
01:06 regarding the irregular fund transfer of the DOH to PSDBM
01:10 for the purchase of various COVID-19 supplies.
01:14 Given the severity of the public health emergency,
01:17 we at the IATF and NTF deemed it best to rely on the expertise of the PSDBM
01:24 and its network of suppliers for sourcing of the much-needed PPEs
01:28 along with other essential goods and services for emergency response.
01:33 We would not have stood a fighting chance without the first tranches of PPEs,
01:38 which was a lifeline for our health workers.
01:40 The congressmen said that the details of the transfer of funds are clear,
01:47 and that the public is more concerned about the details.
01:54 Secretary Duque and Madam Chair are also telling us
01:58 that under the orders of former President Duterte,
02:02 the transfer of 47.6 billion pesos was made.
02:07 Is that correct? Please say yes or no.
02:11 Publicly, this was made by the President in our meetings weekly.
02:19 Meet or talk to the people.
02:22 Despite the former President Duterte's orders,
02:28 his power to make decisions and give directives was also involved.
02:33 For him, he did not do anything illegal.
02:36 Duque also answered the order issued by the ombudsman.
02:41 Regarding the ombudsman case,
02:44 I was ordered to submit a motion for reconsideration.
02:50 I'm just waiting Madam Chairperson, Your Honors,
02:54 for the action of the ombudsman on my MR.
02:59 So everything, my legal team has already submitted all the documents to support
03:09 and counter the baseless allegations that were filed against my person.
03:19 Former and current officials of PhilHealth also faced persecution.
03:23 One of the things that they were forced to do
03:26 was the expensive COVID-19 testing in 2020.
03:30 Even in other countries, it was cheaper.
03:32 According to the agency,
03:34 the price was high in the beginning due to the lack of supply.
03:37 But it eventually dropped.
03:40 As of April 14, 2020, the price was 8,150 pesos.
03:47 And then on June 25, 2020, the price was brought down to 3,409 pesos.
03:59 And then on November 30, 2021, the price was brought down to 2,800 pesos.
04:09 And then on May 26, 2021, the price was further reduced to 2,287 pesos.
04:21 And then on November 30, 2021, the price was 2,450 pesos.
04:30 The hearing is expected to continue next week.
04:34 Melalas Moras for Pambansang TV in Bagong, Philippines.