Manila: A group of lawyers led by former solicitor general Jose Anselmo Cadiz has petitioned the Supreme Court (SC) to compel government agencies to reveal the supply agreements related to the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines from 2020 to 2022.

According to Philippines News Agency, the petition for certiorari and mandamus filed by the group seeks to have the Department of Health, Department of Finance, Department of Budget and Management, and Commission on Audit disclose the supply agreements, procurement details, and liquidation records of the vaccines. The petitioners emphasize the public’s right to access such information, citing Section 7, Article III of the Constitution.

The government allocated PHP113.485 billion for the Covid-19 vaccine procurement to inoculate approximately 114 million eligible Filipinos. The funding included PHP8.935 billion from the national budget, with additional financing of PHP34.978 billion from the Asian Development Bank, PHP41.820 billion from the World Bank, and PHP27.75 billion from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

The petitioners argue that the supply agreements are of “transcendental importance” and are matters of public concern. The petition stresses that these agreements are clearly covered by the 1987 Constitution’s provisions on public access to information.

In a conversation with reporters, Cadiz expressed concerns about the possibility of procurement overpricing. He stressed the need for transparency due to the significant public funds involved, stating, “With the large sum involved, this is imbued with public interest and therefore, the people should know if the price paid for the vaccines was true and just.”