The House committee on good government and public accountability on Monday denied the motion of Bayan Muna party-list Representative Ferdinand Gaite to adopt the testimonies given by Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation officials during the Senate inquiry on the procurement of COVID-19 supplies last year.
During the resumption of the House panel’s inquiry into the controversial purchase, the progressive lawmaker moved to adopt the testimonies of Pharmally executives regarding the issue on the procurement, saying that these are now part of public records.
“Since nagkaroon nga po ng hearings sa Senate blue ribbon committee and the officials of Pharmally have testimonies under oath and are now part of public record, I move that the testimonies, in particular, of Pharmally be included as part of our records in our hearing at the House of Representatives under the good committee,” Gaite said.
Panel vice chairman Representative Johnny Pimentel objected to Gaite’s motion, saying that the Senate and the House of Representatives are totally different chambers and that they have their respective rules in conducting an investigation.
“The investigation of the Senate and that of the HRep are totally separate, although on similar issues. Mr. Chair, marami na ho tayong ginawang mga imbestigasyon or inquiries on same issues… But then, hindi pupuwedeng kokopyahin natin ‘yung proceedings. We have our own rules,” Pimentel said.
He added that the direction of the Senate’s probe could be different from that of the House of Representatives.
Deputy Speaker Bernadette Herrera-Dy also opposed the motion, saying that it was “out of order.”
“I object to the motion considering marami pa pong congressman na gustong magtanong, marami pa pong gustong magpalabas ng sitwasyon na pumapalibot dito at tayo po ay may mga sariling opinyon dito sa House of Representatives,” she said.
“I object to that motion dahil hindi niya nilalagay ang independence ng House of Representatives with the Senate. Mayroon po tayong sariling pag-intindi, mayroon po tayong sariling pamamaraan ng pag-iimbestiga,” she added.
Meanwhile, panel chairperson Representative Michael Aglipay ruled to deny Gaite’s motion.
“The chair will rule na, in light of the foregoing, I rule to deny the motion of Congressman Gaite because we are a bicameral, two houses separate, distinct from one another,” Aglipay said.
When Gaite was speaking, Aglipay was already heard asking a lawmaker to object to Gaite’s motion: “‘Yun na ‘yun… deny mo, I object kamo.”
Earlier in the inquiry, Aglipay took a swipe at the Senate over its investigation on the same issue, saying that there will be “no ulterior motive” in the House panel’s probe into the matter.
“It should not be for media mileage and never in aid of election or reelection. Trabaho lang po (Purely professional),” Aglipay said.
“I dare say that in the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings, we see and hear at least four potential presidential or vice presidential candidates who savor every minute they can get from free TV coverage and publicity,” he added.
Aglipay further said the panel’s probe into the issue is not being done to defend President Rodrigo Duterte and his administration, saying he is “independent from all politics.”
“I am for the people. I am pro-Filipino. Hindi po ako pro- or anti-government. This is the essence of democracy where all sides are allowed to speak, and in doing so we will only speak on the topic at hand,” he said.
Aglipay urged his fellow lawmakers “not to waste the Filipino people’s time” and “not distract Cabinet officials from the true task at hand, and that is to continue fighting the virus.”
Duterte earlier said he prefers the House probe over the investigation being done by the Senate. He has since insisted that there was no corruption on the purchase of COVID-19 supplies.—AOL, GMA News
House panel denies Gaite’s motion to adopt testimonies of Pharmally execs in Senate probe
Source: Pinoy Hub News
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