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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Koko Pimentel: Debate on existence of corruption in government is ''pointless and endless''

Koko Pimentel: Debate on existence of corruption in government is ''pointless and endless''

Published Jun 30, 2021 12:51 pm

A debate whether corruption in the Duterte administration is twice or thrice more than the corruption level during administration of the late President Benigno Simeon Aquino III is ‘’pointless and endless.’’

This is because President Duterte himself stated that ‘’there is corruption in government,’’ Senator Aquilino Pimentel III on Wednesday said.

Senator Emmanuel D. Pacquiao, acting president of Partido Demokratikong Pilipino (PDP)-Laban and a presidential hopeful, earlier alleged that corruption in the Duterte administration is worst than the level of corruption during the PNoy administration.

This allegation appeared to have snapped the political ties between President Duterte, PDP-Laban chairman, and Pacquiao.

Pimentel is the executive vice chairman of PDP-Laban. He openly supports Pacquiao’s bid for a higher elective position.

Pacquiao then accepted Duterte’s challenge to show where corruption exists in the Executive branch.

He singled out Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III who, he said, should explain the billions of pesos spent for the various medicines and materials needed in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Replying, Duque recalled that he and other government officials appeared before a June 14 Senate committee hearing presided by Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III on the COVID-19 issue. There were other senators during the hearing.

Duque said they were at the hybrid hearing for eight hours but not one question was raised by Pacquiao.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Pacquiao might have been absent when Duque presented pandemic expenses in Senate hearings.

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