Palace lashes back at Roxas for 'publicity stunt'
07/11/2009 | 09:06 PM
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang lashed back on Saturday at Sen. Manuel Roxas II for his “publicity stunt" of inviting President Arroyo to testify at a Senate hearing on high prices of medicines.
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said it was unfair of Roxas to summon Mrs. Arroyo, head of a co-equal branch of government, to the Senate hearing on Monday.
“The President is head of a co-equal branch of government. If he (Roxas) does not know that he has no business being senator, much less seeking the presidency. If he knows that, he is mentally dishonest. Obvious ginagawa niyang publicity stunt as political grandstanding (It was obvious he made this a publicity stunt, all for political grandstanding)," he said on government-run dzRB radio.
He added Roxas’ claims of collusion between President Arroyo and drug firms and hints at price control will scare the business sector.
“Enough is enough ... People are making political capital out of lambasting the President and that is too much," he added.
On Friday, Roxas said he has invited Mrs. Arroyo, or her representative, to the hearing at the Senate of the Oversight Committee on Quality Affordable Medicines, at 9 a.m. Monday.
He said he wants an explanation on alleged collusion between Mrs. Arroyo and pharmaceutical firms, which recently met with Palace officials at the old Singian building near Malacañang.
Remonde said Mrs. Arroyo was merely listening to the grievances of the business sector.
“Business has every right to air grievances, (and government must hear them, and) this is exactly what the President did," he said.
He added Mrs. Arroyo may sign an executive order enforcing the law.
A proposed executive order prepared by the Department of Health slashes by half the prices of 22 essential medicines to keep them within reach of poor patients who are in need of life maintenance or at the brink of dying.
These drugs include the anti-hypertensive drug Norvasc (to P22.50 from P44.50); anti-diabetic Diamicron (to P7.35 from P14.75); antibiotic Zithromax (to P149.37 from P298.75); and antibiotic Augmentin suspension 60 ml (to P179.50 from P359).
Remonde said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III will represent Mrs. Arroyo at the Senate hearing.
He said it was “against the law" to invite a head of a co-equal branch of government. He did not elaborate, but also pointed out Roxas’ invitation had a “very bad motive."
“I’m sorry to have to speak strongly like this. Medyo sobra naman ang pag-aapi ni kaibigang Senador Mar Roxas kay Pangulong Gloria (I’m sorry to have to speak strongly like this. But Roxas’ insinuations against President Gloria are too much)," he said.
Remonde reiterated that in 10 days, the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Law (Republic Act 9502) will be implemented because pharmaceutical firms will sign a letter of undertaking.
The letter will indicate their voluntary compliance with the cheaper medicines law.
Remonde said this letter “will bind them forever" even after the President steps down from power.
In a separate interview on dzRH radio, Remonde said the price cut will “by an average of 50 percent, (but) it can be more than 50 percent."
Some pharmaceutical firms have reportedly voiced difficulties in complying with the proposed maximum retail price of essential medicines while others claimed they were not consulted on the list. - GMANews.TV
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said it was unfair of Roxas to summon Mrs. Arroyo, head of a co-equal branch of government, to the Senate hearing on Monday.
“The President is head of a co-equal branch of government. If he (Roxas) does not know that he has no business being senator, much less seeking the presidency. If he knows that, he is mentally dishonest. Obvious ginagawa niyang publicity stunt as political grandstanding (It was obvious he made this a publicity stunt, all for political grandstanding)," he said on government-run dzRB radio.
He added Roxas’ claims of collusion between President Arroyo and drug firms and hints at price control will scare the business sector.
“Enough is enough ... People are making political capital out of lambasting the President and that is too much," he added.
On Friday, Roxas said he has invited Mrs. Arroyo, or her representative, to the hearing at the Senate of the Oversight Committee on Quality Affordable Medicines, at 9 a.m. Monday.
He said he wants an explanation on alleged collusion between Mrs. Arroyo and pharmaceutical firms, which recently met with Palace officials at the old Singian building near Malacañang.
Remonde said Mrs. Arroyo was merely listening to the grievances of the business sector.
“Business has every right to air grievances, (and government must hear them, and) this is exactly what the President did," he said.
He added Mrs. Arroyo may sign an executive order enforcing the law.
A proposed executive order prepared by the Department of Health slashes by half the prices of 22 essential medicines to keep them within reach of poor patients who are in need of life maintenance or at the brink of dying.
These drugs include the anti-hypertensive drug Norvasc (to P22.50 from P44.50); anti-diabetic Diamicron (to P7.35 from P14.75); antibiotic Zithromax (to P149.37 from P298.75); and antibiotic Augmentin suspension 60 ml (to P179.50 from P359).
Remonde said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III will represent Mrs. Arroyo at the Senate hearing.
He said it was “against the law" to invite a head of a co-equal branch of government. He did not elaborate, but also pointed out Roxas’ invitation had a “very bad motive."
“I’m sorry to have to speak strongly like this. Medyo sobra naman ang pag-aapi ni kaibigang Senador Mar Roxas kay Pangulong Gloria (I’m sorry to have to speak strongly like this. But Roxas’ insinuations against President Gloria are too much)," he said.
Remonde reiterated that in 10 days, the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Law (Republic Act 9502) will be implemented because pharmaceutical firms will sign a letter of undertaking.
The letter will indicate their voluntary compliance with the cheaper medicines law.
Remonde said this letter “will bind them forever" even after the President steps down from power.
In a separate interview on dzRH radio, Remonde said the price cut will “by an average of 50 percent, (but) it can be more than 50 percent."
Some pharmaceutical firms have reportedly voiced difficulties in complying with the proposed maximum retail price of essential medicines while others claimed they were not consulted on the list. - GMANews.TV
