Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. rejects rumors pointing to corruption involved in procurement of COVID-19 drugs in the form of kickbacks, noting that funds will be sourced from international institutions which officials do not have access to.
“Hindi pupwedeng magkaroon ng kickback, dahil ang pondo pong gagamitin natin ay (galing) ADB at tsaka yung World Bank. “Wala po sa Cabinet members, wala pong government officials na may access nito except (the) Secretary of Finance,” Galvez explains.
Galvez also gave an update on concerns aired out by senators who on alleged kickbacks in the procurement process.
“Sinasabi ko sa kanila: huwag kayong maghusga, kasi hindi niyo nakikita ang integrity ng ADB, integrity ng World Bank at tsaka integrity ng DOF natin at tsaka integrity namin ang nakasalalay dito,” he explained.
Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan earlier questioned if the delay in the purchase deal of supposed 10 million doses of American drug maker Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine resulted from officials hoping for a “kickvacc” or commissions from it.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque denied the accusation, citing President Rodrigo Duterte’s abhorrence of corruption.
The Philippine government plans to inoculate Filipinos against the coronavirus by the first quarter of 2021.
