MANILA – Malacañang will leave it up to the executive bodies whether to continue with their investigation on the Presidential Security Group’s (PSG) use of unauthorized vaccine shots against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) will have the discretion on probing the controversial inoculation.
“The President said that he will invoke the executive privilege and forbid his security group from attending the Senate hearing, it’s not really a gag order,” Roque siad. “PSG will cooperate with other investigations even if (Duterte) told them not to.”
During his address to the public on Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte instructed the PSG to “shut up” should lawmakers inquire about their COVID-19 vaccination.
“Whatever be your objection, whatever be your criticism, para sa akin, it is a matter of preservation,” Duterte said. “And I would like to call on Congress, na hindi naman ako nakikiusap, ang akin lang, diretso na salita, do not tinker with the PSG.”
“So hanggang diyan na lang ako, I will not elaborate on it, but do not force my hand to meddle into this affair because maybe I am not so keen about allowing (PSG Commander Brigadier General Jesus) Durante and the rest of the PSG to testify,” he added.
Following Duterte’s statement to the Congress, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday morning announced the termination of its investigation on PSG’s COVID-19 vaccine injection.
Citing national security, Durante admitted last week that members of the President’s security group have already been vaccinated./PN
