`No proof Duterte betrayed public trust’

SEN. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said he is not convinced that President Rodrigo Duterte betrayed public trust when he supposedly defended some personalities linked to the multibillion peso Pharmally scandal.

However, the senator and presidential candidate on Sunday said that those found liable should be held accountable.

Lacson said the phrase “betrayal of public trust” contained in the report had to be discussed at length because it could lead to the impeachment of a sitting President.

“When I signed the report, I did so as vice chairman of the committee. But I did so with reservations, so it doesn’t mean I support all its contents,” he said in a statement.

“At least for now, unless I am presented with compelling evidence, there is no basis for me to believe that there is a betrayal of public trust,” he added.

Lacson noted that the Supreme Court in 2012 released its definition of the phrase “betrayal of public trust” on the belief that this broad and catch-all concept may be abused by anyone trying to seek retribution against public officials who may have committed certain offenses punishable by law.

The Senate blue ribbon committee headed by Sen. Richard “Dick” Gordon on February 1 released a preliminary report on the result of its investigation on the alleged purchase by the government of overpriced medical supplies.

Lacson noted that the evidence gathered by the panel pointed mainly to the greed and lack of competence of officials of agencies like the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management in dealing with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp.

Pharmally won deals worth P11 billion to supply medical equipment to combat the Covid-19 pandemic despite having only P625,000 in paid-up capital.