IN a rare display of his frustration, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, in a social media post last Saturday, September 12, 2021, lashed out at lawmakers and the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee (SBRC) for persisting on a probe of the government’s expenditures related to the COVID-19 pandemic despite the surge of new cases, describing the proceedings as a “ bad circus” and the manner of questioning resource persons invited as “bullying.”
Medialdea is never known for seeking public attention on any issue and has always kept to himself.
But in his post, he noted the SBRC hearings, under Sen. Richard Gordon, are not contributing to the national effort to contain the pandemic.
“We have 26,303 cases today (September 11, 2021). A surge has been going on for several days now,” Medialdea said, referring to the number of new COVID-19 cases, the highest single-day reported infection thus far. The actual number is incomplete, the Department of Health (DOH) noted, as two laboratories failed to submit their reports.
“And yet, key officials in charge of protecting our people from this surge are being required to attend hearings for an alleged ‘grand plunder’ which to date has shown nothing to prove their case except to surround it with speculations drawn from bullying of resource persons most of whom have already been criminally condemned without due process,” added Medialdea.
He also continued: “As of Friday, September 10, 2021, 5 hearings have been conducted and as I was informed, several resource persons are still to be called for further bullying. A hearing is set again on Monday (September 13, 2021 – Editor).”
Medialdea then went on to blast the lawmakers, reminding them that the provisions of the Bayanihan Law some senators are now questioning in relation to the budget expenditures were originally crafted by them.
“To our Senators, kindly go over the provisions of the Bayanihan Law which you yourselves proudly crafted to address the pandemic.
“It provides for the Office of the President to render a weekly report to the Senate and the House for all purchases and all other activities related to the pandemic.
“These reports were religiously submitted to you for your comments. Except for a few, none of you bothered to give a comment on those reports.
“Perhaps, if you had done so, you could have avoided calling for a blue ribbon hearing which has ripped a lot of time, effort and money for government to the detriment of the more serious problem of addressing the pandemic.
“What do we want to achieve here? Break the record of (the) Binay Senate Hearings which totaled 25 days while people are suffering and dying? To prove ‘grand plunder?’
“Elements please for lawyers who read this.”
The Executive Secretary was referring to the number of SBRC hearings conducted during the previous Noynoy Aquino administration against then Vice President Jejomar Binay. The hearings, which started in August 2014, largely contributed to Binay’s defeat in the 2016 presidential elections.
“PRRD stated that we have to bear with this pandemic. It is worldwide and each country has to address their own concerns. I agree,” said Medialdea.
“In our case however we have a pandemic and at the same time, we have a circus in the very House (Senate) where people are supposed to care for us.
“I have a suggestion to those conducting the Senate hearings.
“Just file the necessary cases and leave it to the experts tasked to investigate them while you do your jobs to legislate or conduct investigation properly in aid of legislation.
“By doing so, you can preserve your energy for the coming elections,” Medialdea said, in a clear address to senators who are either seeking re-election or a higher office in next year’s polls.
“To those suffering because of the pandemic keep on praying for healing. It is bad for our morale as a nation to be watching a bad circus during a pandemic.
“Let us all do something worthwhile to alleviate the sufferings of our people.
“Good day!” Medialdea said at the end of his post.