Kinilala ng Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) ang panawagan para sa isang Senate inquiry kasabay ang pagtanggi nitong may nakatengga itong bilyun-bilyong pondo.

“We’d like to assure our esteemed lawmakers that we are not a valet service for obligated but unused funds of various government agencies. Neither do we operate a parking lot to gain commissions on the side,” pahayag ni PITC president Dave Almarinez noong Miyerkules.

Unang pinuna ni Senador Franklin Drilon ang nakatenggang ₱33.4 bilyong pondo na naka-“park” lamang umano sa PITC. Hinikayat ng mambabatas ang ahensya na ibalik sa kaban ng bayan ang pondo para magamit sa pagbili ng mga bakuna kontra Covid-19.

Sinabi naman ng PITC na ibinalik na nito ang mga hindi pa nagagastos nitong pondo sa National Treasury.

“The PITC has records to show that it has reverted back to the national treasury all unutilized funds of client-agencies covering the periods 2019 and prior years and fully liquidated funds utilized for the procurement of goods and services for those years,” dagdag pa ng ahensya.

Pinabulaanan din ng PITC ang pangamba ng ilang senador na balakid umano ang ahensya sa procurement ng Covid-19 vaccines.

Aniya, “We should not be seen as a threat or hindrance to the vaccination program because we don’t even have the power to choose which vaccine to buy. We are not involved in any way in the decision-making process.”

Inatasan ang PITC na mag-procure ng ₱20 bilyong halaga ng Covid-19 vaccines. May agam-agam naman ang ilang senador dahil sa hindi magandang track record ng PITC.

“We would like to reiterate that PITC is on track for the completion of the procurement projects and all funds are all accounted for,” diin ni Almarinez.

Dagdag pa ng opisyal, “We appeal for reason and impartiality because it would be unfair to all if the COVID-19 vaccination program is already being pulled down even before it has a chance to rise above everyone’ expectations.”