Malacanañg on Tuesday did not give a categorical answer as to when the government will end its transactions with Philippine Red Cross as earlier announced by President Rodrigo Duterte.
“What the President wants is to make Red Cross accountable. That is why he asked the Commission on Audit to audit the Red Cross,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said during the Palace briefing when asked when the President will make good on his threat.
Roque then said that the Red Cross, chaired by Senator Richard Gordon, should not be led by a politician.
“This is what happens when Red Cross is led by a politician. Humanitarian organizations should be led by non-politicians,” he added.
Gordon chairs the Senate blue ribbon committee which is investigating the government’s P8-billion purchase of imported medical supplies from Pharmally firm, a move that sidelined local manufacturers.
The government has maintained that such purchase is legal and of high quality.
The President, however, has also resorted to calling Gordon overweight and accused the senator of being corrupt using Red Cross funds.
Gordon has dismissed these as cheap shots and is still pressing on the inquiry.
The Red Cross has been providing COVID-19 tests and aids the government in providing help to calamity-hit areas. —KG, GMA News
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