A group of 13 high-profile organizations has urged government cooperation in a probe into alleged misuse of pandemic funds in the Philippines, challenging President Rodrigo Duterte's order to ministers not to answer summons for a Senate investigation. "We call on all parties to pursue and cooperate with this investigation to the fullest extent allowed by law," the statement said. Duterte last month ordered cabinet members to seek his consent before appearing in Senate hearings. Duterte, 76, who was elected on promises to eliminate graft completely, cannot seek a second term and had been expected to run for vice president next year. But at the weekend he declared he would retire from politics, days after an opinion poll on preferred vice president candidates showed him slipping into second place.

Source: The Standard October 04, 2021 16:30 UTC