Health Secretary Francisco Duque III need not explain his side anymore on the botched procurement of COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer before the Senate when it inquires about the government's vaccination program, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Saturday.
Sotto, who is set to lead the Senate Committee of the Whole inquiry, was convinced that Duque was indeed at fault for the failure of the government to purchase from the United States-based pharmaceutical the first batch of coronavirus vaccines.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson had earlier revealed that it was Duque whom Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin was referring to when he said on Twitter last Tuesday that he and Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel "Babe" Romualdez could have secured 10 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer but "someone dropped the ball".
Lacson, quoting Locsin and Romualdez, said talks for the acquisition of Pfizer's vaccines started in July but the Department of Health (DoH) chief supposedly failed to prepare the confidentiality disclosure agreement (CDA) needed for the purchase.
Asked over radio DWIZ if Duque will be asked to explain on the foiled deal with Pfizer, Sotto said: "Hindi na kailangan. Anong ipapaliwanag niya? Hiningi 'yong papeles sa kanya, hindi niya binigay, anong kailangan niyang ipaliwanag doon, 'di ba? Ang tagal na nun, walang kailangan ipaliwanag doon. Talagang, ika nga, according to the words of Ambassador Babes Romuladez, Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin, eh, sabit na sabit."
(No need. What else would he be explaining? The documents were asked from him, he did not give it, so what explaining does he need to do? It happened a long time ago, so there is nothing to explain anymore. Indeed, according to the words of Ambassador Babes Romuladez, Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin, he is really at faul.)
"Imbes na nakatulong – kumbaga sa basketball – nabitawan ‘yung bola. Nag-fumble (That instead of helping – as in basketball – he dropped the ball. He fumbled)," he added.
The Senate leader also did not buy Duque's defense that he was trying to be cautious about Pfizer's product and that he was not authorized then to sign the confidentiality agreement on the behalf of the government.
"Bago inappoint si Gen. (Carlito) Galvez as vaccine czar, 'yung problema na sinasabi ni Secretary Locsin, naganap na. Si DoH Secretary ang may hawak ng bola non, wala pa 'yong vaccine czar...Yong nag-uumpisa pa lang, DoH ang may hawak non. Kaya huwag nilang – naku, ang layo (Before Gen. Galvez was appointed as vaccine czar, the problem being cited by Secretary Locsin already happened. The ball was with the DoH Secretary then, there was no vaccine czar yet. When the negotiations were starting, it was the DoH in charge. So don't use that excuse – please, that's not related)," Sotto said.
"Hindi ba kayo nakakahalata, bakit si Gen. Galvez ang in-appoint na vaccine czar? Hindi ba dapat Secretary of Health? Bakit si Gen. Galvez? In other words, ang tiwala talaga na kay Gen. Galvez pagdating dito sa isyu na 'to dahil sumabit eh (Are you not wondering why Gen. Galvez was the one appointed as the vaccine czar? When it should be the Secretary of Health? Why Gen. Galvez? In other words, the President is trusting Gen. Galvez more than Duque when it comes to the vaccines, because he failed)," he added.
After weeks of communication with Pfizer and concerned government agencies, Duque said that it was only on Sept. 24 that he was instructed by the Office of the Executive Secretary that he should be the one signing the CDA. He signed the document on Oct. 20.
National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer and designated vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. also signed a separate CDA with Pfizer in November.
Sotto said the DoH is being proactive about the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines. "Pag reactive, ayan, 'yan ang sumasabit. Tulad ng DoH. Reactive, eh (If a department is reactive, it fails. Like the DoH. Because it is reactive)."
Sotto said he is disappointed but would still leave it to President Duterte to react on the latest revelation about Duque.
A majority of senators signed early this year a resolution calling for Duque's resignation for mishandling the COVID-19 pandemic. Duterte, however, had rejected such appeals, saying he continues to trust his Health Secretary.
The Senate Committee of the Whole will conduct in January a hearing on the government COVID-19 immunization program.