STATEMENT OF SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS ON THE REMARKS OF THE PALACE ON THE BRC HEARINGS

Ito ang "whiff of corruption" na di kayang takpan: na dumaan ang pera ng bayan sa kamay ng mga estafador at pugante. Instead of making the most of our resources at a crucial time during the pandemic, the president himself seems to be fraternizing with fugitives who by all indications, were favored to corner billions in pesos of government contracts at the expense of local manufacturers offering more advantageous terms.

Nasaan ang "tapang at malasakit"?

Bakit ngayong malapit na naming makita ang mga koneksyon at ang mga totoong nangyari ay saka tila hindi sila mapakali dyan sa Palasyo?

Pharmally's executives have admitted that the company did not have the financial capacity to undertake the bidding, and yet refuse to state their earnings because they're a "trade secret".

Kung walang itinatago ang Pharmally, bakit kailangan nanaman ng pambabanta mula sa Palasyo? Ito na ba ang bunga ng mga expert advice ni Michael Yang noon tungkol sa pagpapatakbo ng ekonomiya?

Opisyal na bang trabaho ng Malacanang na ipagtanggol si Michael Yang at ang Pharmally?

The Senate will recommend the filing of appropriate charges after we're done with our investigation at the Blue Ribbon Committee. We are a co-equal branch of government and this investigation is part of our duty under the Constitution, kaya hayaan na lang kami sa aming tungkulin na siguraduhing nagagamit nang tama ang pera ng taumbayan.

Lastly, don't put the blame on the Senate for some of the administration's failures during this pandemic. Kaya nga nung una pa lang ay nanawagan na kami para sa pagsasagawa ng special audit ng mga pondo. Since the beginning, Congress has been quick to provide the executive department the needed legislative support to address this health crisis. Pero hindi ito pahintulot para ipagsawalang-bahala na ang mga panuntunan kung paano gastusin ang pondo.

Kung may nagkulang man, sigurado akong hindi kami yun.