Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said the issue surrounding the government's procured coronavirus (COVID-19) supplies could have been avoided if only the Senate read the weekly report submitted by the Executive Department to the Legislative.
Medialdea made the statement as the Senate continues to probe the supposed overpriced COVID-19 equipment that the government purchased last year.
During the latest episode of President Duterte's "Talk to the People" on Saturday, September 11, the Palace executive could not help but weigh in on the ongoing probe.
According to Medialdea, the ongoing talks and corruption allegations could have been avoided if only the Senate read the weekly reports that Congress mandated the Executive Department to submit under the two Bayanihan laws.
"It was a very tedious task, Mr. President. At the very least, they would have at least cared to read those reports so we could have avoided this --- these hearings," he said.
Medialdea said that the ongoing hearings may break the record of the Senate of 25 hearings before it wrapped up its investigation on the corruption allegations against former Vice President Jejomar Binay over the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall 2 parking building.
"We're only on the fifth day and I think they intend to break the record of the Binay investigation for 25 days," he said.
He added that time was wasted because of the ongoing probe.
"We're wasting so much time, effort. In fighting a pandemic, Your Honor, we cannot waste a daily hearing on all these matters," Medialdea said.
President Duterte agreed that government people cannot work if the Senate will keep on calling people who are leading the COVID-19 response efforts.
"There are so many things to take care of actually on the home front. And if you keep on calling people to testify there, how can they work?" he said.
Duterte can only think of one reason behind the ongoing hearings.
"Well, anyway, I'd tell you why, the reason? It's because election time and they want exposure," he said.
"They think that if they come up with certain corruption cases, true or false, they could get the mileage," he added.