Iginiit ni Health Secretary Francisco Duque III na hindi sangkot ang kagawawan sa pagbili ng COVID-19 pandemic supplies.
Sa inilabas na pahayag, sinabi ng kalihim na nauunawaan niyang “draft” pa ang inilabas na Panel Report sa media at sasailalim pa ito sa proseso ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
Dagdag nito, “Nevertheless, if the Blue Ribbon adopts the recommendation, we will wait for the action of the appropriate Tribunal.”
Siniguro ni Duque na buo ang kanilang kooperasyon sa pagiging proseso dahil wala aniya silang kailangang itago.
“It is unfortunate that the Panel turned a blind eye to the truth that was revealed during the Senate Blue Ribbon hearing that all procurements for the country’s COVID-19 response were made through the PS-DBM (Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management), the agensya purposely tasked to undertake such activities,” saad ng kalihim.
Diin ni Duque, hindi parte ng nabanggit na aktibidad ang kagawaran dahil nakatutuok sila sa ‘medical side’ ng pandemic response.
Maliban kay Duque, inirekomenda rin ng Senate blue ribbon panel ang pagsasampa ng graft at plunder charges sa dating procurement officials at kay Pharmally executives at Chinese businessman Michael Yang bunsod ng maanomalyang pagkakasangkot sa pandemic supply deals.