Malacaῆang on Wednesday (Sept. 1) denied allegations of overpriced personal protective equipment bought by the government during the onset of the pandemic in 2020.
According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, the government bought PPEs for P1,700 per complete set. He said this is cheaper despite having the same quality as those procured by the previous administration.
“Ipapakita po namin. Dokumento po ito, P1,700 [iyong sa amin], sabi nila overpriced. Eh ang binili ng administrasyon ni Pres. Aquino, P3,500. Kailan? Sept. 28, 2015,” Roque said in his briefing.
The spokesperson sought an explanation for Senator Franklin Drilon for the price of the said procurement when there was no pandemic back then.
“Mayroon po talagang kumita, pero hindi po sa administrasyon na ito,” he said.
“Wala pong ebidensya ng overpricing. Kung mayroon po at mayroon talagang ebidensya ng corruption, hindi na kinakailangan ng Senate investigation, sisibakin na ‘yan ng Presidente,” he added.
In a statement, Drilon responded by describing Roque’s move as a diversionary tactic.
“Spoken like a true troll. It is very unmanly and desperate of Roque to even mention my name. It is very malicious and it is a futile attempt to divert attention away from this organized plunder,” Drilon said.
Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros also questioned the government’s alleged siding with businessman and former Presidential Adviser Michael Yang, whose name has been dragged into the purchase issue.
“Sa presyo po ang labanan, kahit sino ka man, eh unfortunately, wala pong ibang kumpanya na makabibigay ng P1,700… Wala pong kinalaman ang mga personalidad, ang tiningnan, presyo at saka kalidad,” Roque said.
National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF) chief implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said their objective then for purchasing the PPEs was to “save lives, not to make money” due to the urgent need for PPE volumes. – Report from Mela Lesmoras/AG- bny
