Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 27) — President Rodrigo Duterte slammed the “posturing” of some senators, urging the public not to believe their investigations that have resulted to nothing.
“Huwag ho kayong maniwala diyan sa mga imbestigasyon-imbestigasyon. Nakita naman ninyo walang nangyayari puro lang we will investigate, investigate,” the President said during his second taped address this week.
[Translation: Do not believe their investigations. As you can see nothing has happened. They just keep saying, “we will investigate, investigate”.]
“Pakinggan mo iyong ibang senador diyan, mayroon talagang masabi. After investigation, one or two or three days in hearing wala na, walang rekomendasyon, walang dinemanda, walang na-preso. Puro postura lang,” he added.
[Translation: Listen to some senators who just have to say something. After the investigation, one or two or three days in hearing, then nothing. No recommendation, no charges, no one is imprisoned. It is only just posturing.]
Several Cabinet members have been put under the spotlight since last year amid issues surrounding the government’s pandemic response.
Recently, legislators started an inquiry on the audit report that uncovered supposed “deficiencies” in the Health department’s management of COVID-19 pandemic funds amounting to over ₱67 billion.
RELATED: Duque criticized for passing questions in Senate hearings
But senators refuted Duterte’s remarks.
Duterte has repeatedly defended DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III from issues hounding the Health chief. The president said he will stand by the embattled Duque reiterating that he is an innocent man.
“Baka nakalimutan lang nya or misinformed sya [Perhaps he forgot or he was misinformed]. I will send him the Senate report on the (Committee) of the Whole investigation on Philhealth. Most of his appointed officers have now pending cases and were removed because of the Senate investigation,” Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III told reporters.
Lawmakers also filed resolutions to look into the COVID-19 vaccine tripartite agreements of local government units that have not been signed or have been put on hold.
The chief executive, meanwhile, enjoined Filipinos to trust him as their duly-elected leader.
“Ako president ninyo. You trusted me, you voted for me so… ako iyong pinaka huling taong manloko sa inyo… [Kapag] hindi na ako presidente patayin n’yo ako kung ako ay nagkamali o nagsisinungaling,” Duterte said.
[Translation: I am your president. You trusted me, you voted for me and I would be the last person to trick you. When I am not president anymore, you may kill me if I did something wrong or if I lied.]
