Palace expects PSG to cooperate in agencies’ vaccine probes

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made this remark after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered PSG Commander Brig. Jesus Durante III and other personnel not to show up in the inquiry by the Senate. (PCOO file photo)

MANILA – Malacañang is expecting Presidential Security Group (PSG) personnel to participate in investigations by agencies in the executive branch on their use of unregistered coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made this remark after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered PSG Commander Brig. Jesus Durante III and other personnel not to show up in the inquiry by the Senate.

“Iyong mga hearings ng ehekutibo (The hearings in the executive branch) can continue and of course we expect the PSG to appear and cooperate,” he said in a Palace press briefing.

Roque, however, noted that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has decided to cancel its planned probe.

He said Palace will leave it to the other agencies to decide whether they want to push through with the investigations.

“Iyong Spokesperson ng AFP, si General (Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard) Arevalo na nagsasabi na hindi na raw po itutuloy ng AFP ang imbestigasyon ‘no. So iyan po ay desisyon ng iba’t ibang ahensiya (already said that the AFP won’t push through with the investigation. So that’s a decision to be made by different agencies),” he said.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have yet to announce whether they will proceed with the investigation.

Asked if Duterte would order the PSG personnel to cooperate with agencies also planning to launch a probe, Roque said there would no need to do so.

“He does not have to. They all belong in the executive branch of government. I think they will because there is no order from the President not to participate,” he added.

While Duterte would allow the PSG to be investigated by executive agencies, Roque said the case is different for the Senate.

“The concept of executive privilege arises from separation of power and the fact that the President must be allowed to make correct, even if unpopular decisions,” he said.

No knowledge

Last Dec. 26, Duterte himself announced that some members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, particularly his close-in security detail, have been inoculated with a Sinopharm vaccine.

However, in his public address on Monday night, Duterte said he could not really tell if the PSG personnel received the vaccine.

Roque said the President only learned about the vaccination after it took place and had no prior knowledge.

“Ang alam lang niya after the fact, na nagpaturok na sila. Pero hindi po nagpaalam, hindi nagbigay ng consent. Nabalitaan na niya na maraming nagpaturok kaya sabi niya c’est la vie. Kung gusto nilang gawin iyon para sa kanilang buhay at para magawa ang katungkulan nila, desisyon nila iyon (All he knew after the fact that they were already inoculated. But they didn’t ask for his permission, they didn’t ask for his consent. He just found out that many have already gotten shot that’s why he said ‘that’s life’. If they wanted to do it for self-preservation and to carry out their mandate, that’s their decision),” he said.