THE draft report on the Pharmally controversy still lacks the needed number of signatures from the other senators, which explains why the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee have yet to submit it to the plenary.
It was learned from the committee that only eight senators have signed the report, which is about the procurement of pandemic supplies by the national government from Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation.
The report needs a total of 11 signatures, or a simple majority of the 20 members of the committee, before it can be submitted to the Senate plenary for further debate and approval.
The other senators are reportedly still reviewing the report’s content where it said that there was betrayal of public trust by President Duterte for allegedly defending those involved in the controversy.
The report recommended the filing of plunder charges against Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, former officials of the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management Pharmally officials.
Meanwhile, it was learned that the committee have yet to furnish the documents and information it obtained regarding the controversy to the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Among the other controversies investigated before by the Senate, there were committees who were the ones who submitted their findings to the Ombudsman and the DOJ even before they were requested, and there were also times when the Ombudsman and DOJ were the ones who request for a copy of the evidence obtained by the Senate.