Koko Pimentel says non-cooperation of witnesses will result in longer Senate probe on Pharmally

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said Tuesday witnesses and other resource persons should cooperate with the ongoing Senate blue ribbon probe on the procurement of alleged overpriced medical supplies from Pharmally Corporation amid the COVID-19 pandemic or else the probe will take longer time to finish.

“If you have nothing to hide, it won’t be a problem. I call on them to cooperate so that the Senate panel can finish its responsibility of coming up with a new legislation and make recommendations on who should be held accountable,” Pimentel said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

“Otherwise, the probe will take longer,” he added.

Pimentel made the call after Pharmally employee Krizle Mago, during a House probe, recanted her previous testimony at the Senate that the firm swindled the government by changing expiry dates of face shields for the use of health workers.

Mago claimed she was pressured to say the admission, even if it only took one question from panel chairman Senator Richard Gordon for her to make a response that the government is being swindled, even saying she cannot deny it during her virtual attendance on the probe.

Pimentel, however, said that Mago’s retraction does not diminish her previous adminission.

“She can explain to us why she is changing her story, but everything she had already said are on video and she said them spontaneously. The senators cannot also be forced to disregard what she said under oath,” he said.

“We are not bound by her story alone. In fact, she just confirmed what another witness said,” he added.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque earlier said that Health Secretary Francisco Duque III remains willing to attend such Senate probe because the latter has nothing to hide.

Roque, however, has maintained that the probe is being done not in aid of legislation but in aid of election.—AOL, GMA News

Koko Pimentel says non-cooperation of witnesses will result in longer Senate probe on Pharmally
Source: Filipino Viral News PH