Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 5) — President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to forbid his security group from attending the Senate probe on use of unregulated vaccines is part of his executive privilege to "make correct" decisions even if these are unpopular ones and not usually favored by the public, his spokesperson said Tuesday.
"The concept of executive privilege arises from separation of power and the fact that the President must be allowed to make correct, even if unpopular decisions," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said during his noontime briefing.
Roque also stressed that Duterte's move to block the attendance of the Presidential Security Group only applies to the Senate probe, while other agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration, the Bureau of Customs and the National Bureau of Investigation are still free to resume their investigation on the matter.
"Malinaw po ang mensahe ng Presidente, para po iyan sa Kongreso (What the President said was clear, the order applies to Congress)," he said.
Roque also insisted once again during the briefing that Duterte neither knew the source of the vaccine, and how the military was inoculated. This is contrary to the admission of Philippine Army Chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana that the President himself made the order through the direction of the "chain of command of the armed forces."
READ: Army chief says troop vaccination authorized by Duterte
"Hindi po nagpaalam, hindi nagbigay ng consent, nabalitaan na lang niya (Duterte) na maraming nagpaturok, kaya sabi lang niya, c'est la vie (carry on)," he said.
[Translation: No one asked for permission, no consent was given, he just heard that many were already vaccinated, so he just said, c'est la vie.]
In an interview with CNN Philippines' New Day earlier in the day, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said that it is within the President's power to invoke executive privilege by barring his personnel from attending legislative hearings. He said Congress can tap other sources to get to the bottom of the issue.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that the investigation of the NBI's Special Action Unit will focus on the proliferation of the unregistered vaccines in the country, and they can also obtain information from various sources.
In his address to the nation on Monday night, Duterte told PSG Chief Jesus Durante to disobey possible summons from the Congress to testify on the much-criticized inoculation as part of "self preservation." Should they decide to attend any legislative investigation, he told them not to disclose any information.
READ: Duterte orders PSG to skip Congress vaccine probe, warns solons of 'little crisis'
Despite Duterte's pronouncement, the Makabayan bloc filed a resolution seeking to conduct a House probe on the controversial vaccination. Numerous lawmakers also stressed the need to continue exercising their mandate and lauded the move of other agencies that will still look into the matter.
"We need effective checks and balances, lalo na sa usapin ng pagbakuna sa ating mga mamamayan (most especially on the issue of vaccination for the public). Congress must exercise its mandate to conduct investigations in aid of legislation regarding the VIP vaccination of Duterte's security group," Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas said in a statement.
"I feel that it is our duty to get to the bottom of this. It is government's responsibility to crack down this COVID-19 vaccine black market," Sen. Risa Hontiveros said.
For House dangerous drugs panel chair Ace Barbers, the focus of investigation by the government should be on the identification of "smugglers and facilitator-cohorts" of the unregistered vaccines from the Bureau of Customs.
The Food and Drug Administration has not yet approved any anti-COVID vaccines for use in the local drug market. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Monday that they will also check the condition of PSG members who were inoculated, for possible "adverse effects" of the administered vaccine.
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January 05, 2021 at 01:58PM
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Roque: Duterte can make 'correct, but unpopular' decision on PSG vaccination - CNN Philippines
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