Ibinunyag ni Ombudsman Samuel Martires nitong Martes, Oktubre 26, ang imbestigasyon ng kaniyang opisina sa umano’y ma-anomalyang transaksyon sa Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation sangkot ang nasa P10 bilyong halagang medical supplies na inilaan sa hakbang ng gobyerno laban sa COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are conducting our own investigation…. While the Senate and House are investigating, we are also investigating,”sabi ni Martires sa isang panayam sa telebisyon.

Empleyadong lasing, patay matapos sapakin ng ginising na katrabaho

Nang tanungin kung nag-iimbestiga rin ang OMB kay Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chair Sen. Richard J. Gordon kaugnay ng Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) funds, sabi ni Martires na hindi naghain ng reklamo si Pangulong Duterte ukol dito.

Nauna nang sinabi ng Pangulo na hihilingin nitong imbestigahan ng OMB ang umano’y P80 milyong Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) sa Philippine Red Cross (PRC) na pinangungunahan din ng senador.

“We are waiting for the COA (Commission on Audit) to give us a report on this alleged P80 million of Senator Gordon,” sabi ni Martires.

Nagresulta sa bangayan sa pagitan ng Pangulo at ni Gordon ang imbestigasyon ng Senado sa Pharmally.

Sa isang direktiba, inatasan pa ni Duterte ang kanyang gabinete na huwag dumalo sa mga Senate’s inquiry.

“We are now almost finished with the investigation on the delayed payment of benefits to fallen health workers,” sabi ni Martires.

“We will be releasing one aspect of the investigation conducted last year. I hope the investigators will complete the resolution within the month,” dagdag nito.

Sinabi ni Martires, apektado raw siya sa kaso dahil naniniwala siyang maraming health workers ang sana’y nailigtas kung maagap lang na nakapagpamahagi ng kinakailangang PPE ang DOH.

“I was so affected. And I was thinking, had the PPEs been purchased prior to the declaration of the lockdown, siguro (maybe) we could have avoided the death of health workers,” sabi ni Martires habang ipinapaliwanag kung bakit interesado itong maimbestigahan ang usapin.

Noong Hunyo nakaraang taon, naglunsad ng imbestigasyon ang OMB sa mga isyung ito:

1. Purchase of 100,000 test kits by the DOH.

2. Delayed procurement of PPE and other medical gears necessary for the protection of healthcare workers.

3. Alleged lapses and irregularities that led to the death of medical workers.

4. Rising number of deaths and infected medical frontliners.

5. In inaction in the processing and release of benefits and financial assistance of “fallen” and infected medical frontliners.

6. Confused and delayed reporting of COVID-related deaths and confirmed cases.

Jel Santos