MANILA, Philippines — Health Secretary Francisco Duque III could face graft charges should it be proven that he mishandled the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine deal, Senator Francis Pangilinan said Thursday. “Kung totoo ito na nagkulang ang DOH (Department of Health), gross and inexcusable negligence sa anti-graft law ang posibleng kaso,” Pangilinan said in a message to reporters. ADVERTISEMENT(If it’s true that the DOH was negligent, cases of gross and inexcusable negligence under the anti-grant law can be filed.) “Huwag naman sana na may issue ng ‘kickvacc’ sa dropping of the ball ng Pfizer vaccine procurement,” he added. This, after Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said “somebody dropped the ball” on the Pfizer deal which botched the January delivery of the vaccines.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 17, 2020 06:25 UTC