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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Buti pa sila': Duterte praises ally-filled House for 'sane' hearing on COVID supplies procurement issue

'Buti pa sila': Duterte praises ally-filled House for 'sane' hearing on COVID supplies procurement issue

Published Sep 16, 2021 10:46 am

President Duterte has commended the House of Representatives for conducting a "more sane" inquiry on the government's procurement of alleged overpriced coronavirus disease (COVID-19) supplies.

The President thanked the Lower Chamber for allowing their guests to actually say their piece on the matter.

President Rodrigo Duterte (Malacañang File Photo)

Duterte made the statement as his beef against the Senate's probe on the same issue continues.

In his pre-recorded public address aired Thursday morning, Sept. 16, the President said it was a good thing that the congressmen, the majority of which is composed of his allies, launched an investigation on the matter so government officials may air their side.

"I was informed that the house conducted a hearing and allowed the witnesses to talk kasi ang COA (Commission on Audit), sa Senate mismo, hindi makapagsalita (because the COA people were not allowed to talk in the Senate hearing)," he said.

"It was more of a sane inquiry dahil ang mga witnesses nakapagsalita ng kanilang totoong sagot (because the witnesses were allowed to give their real answers)," he added.

According to the President, he will allow those invited by the Senate to appear in the House inquiry so they can speak without being interrupted.

"Those who were called in the Senate might be called in the House again. It is good because they will be allowed to talk...At least sa (in the) House you’ll get a chance to get your story heard," he added.

Duterte, again, slammed Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, for leading the investigation and cutting off their resource persons when they are talking.

"He (Gordon) cannot help but talk. He interrupts the resource person with questions and cutting them off. Mabuti na lang ang (It's a good thing that the) House conducted a hearing and allowed the witnesses to talk," he said.

"Ang hinahanap ni Gordon ang (What Gordon is looking for is a) theory that would suit him," he added.

Related Tags

Senate probe President Duterte overpriced PPEs House of Representatives 91621 richard gordon
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