THE Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has scheduled for next week its investigation on the “refusal” of the Department of Health to release details of the government’s COVID-19 vaccines procurement.
In an advisory sent to committee members yesterday, panel chairman Sen. Francis Tolentino said the hearing will be held on December 14 at 10 a.m.
“In accordance with Rule X, Section 13 (2) of the Senate Rules, please be informed that the Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigation (Blue Ribbon) will conduct an investigation, motu proprio ‘into the non-disclosure by and/or refusal of the Department of Health (DOH) to release the details of the vaccine procurement contracts on the pretext of a supposedly existing non-disclosure agreement (NDA),” Tolentino said.
In a radio interview last Sunday, Tolentino said the panel has plans to hold an inquiry on the alleged refusal of the DOH to hand over documents to the Commission on Audit for the conduct of an audit on the government’s COVID-19 purchase, citing the NDA with vaccine suppliers and manufacturers as reason.
The inquiry was prompted by statements made by COA Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba, during his confirmation hearing at the Senate on November 29. He said the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank are asking for a special audit on the funds borrowed by government from the two institutions.
He also said COA needs documents to conduct the audit but former Health Secretary Francisco Duque III refused to provide the documents, citing the NDA.
Tolentino said the DOH cannot invoke the NDA for not cooperating with COA since the agreement with vaccine suppliers and manufacturers cover only their trade and industrial secrets, not the pricing.
Besides, he added, the Filipinos should be informed on how their taxes were spent, specifically for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines.
Tolentino said that around P115 billion has been released for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines as of June 2022.
He also earlier said that the investigation will delve into the reported wastage of 44 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, up by about 13 million doses from last week.
