‘UNBELIEVABLE’ | Robredo hits P8.6B PPE contract given to small business linked to Duterte ally

August 30, 2021 , 01:34 PM

By Beatrice Puente

(August 30, 2021) – Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday criticized the government for awarding a multibillion procurement contract to a business with links to a former adviser of President Rodrigo Duterte, describing the deal as “unbelievable.”

Robredo reacted to the P8.6 billion deal bagged by Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation to supply personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical supplies to various government agencies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Unbelievable talaga,” said Robredo in her weekly radio program, comparing the amount to her office’s P900 million budget. “Siguro kung P8.6 billion ang binigay sa amin during COVID-19, siguro ‘yung operations namin ay napalawak. Hindi ko ma-imagine na P8.6 billion ay sa isang contractor lang.”

Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation was the supplier of the overpriced medical goods bought by the Department of Health (DOH) through the Department of Budget and Management, which got flagged by the Commission on Audit (COA).

Documents from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) showed that Pharmally Corporation was only incorporated in 2019 with a meager capital of P625,000, an amount way too low to win government contracts. Huang Tzu Yen, the owner, has links to Michael Yang, a former economic adviser of Duterte.

Robredo said Duterte should have addressed these issues if he really wants to weed out government corruption, instead of floating proposals to audit all government agencies should he become the vice president next year.

“Wala ‘yun sa mandato namin. ‘Di ba nga, ang mandato ng vice president, succession lang. Creative lang kami kaya meron kaming anti-poverty program, meron kaming mga programa ngayon (laban sa) COVID-19. Pero ‘yung pag-audit, nakalagay ‘yan sa constitutional body para may independence,” explained Robredo.

Publishing his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) could also be Duterte’s way of proving he’s against corruption, according to Robredo, taking a swipe at the tough-talking leader whose last available wealth declaration record was for 2017.

Duterte’s officials have shielded him from criticisms over his secretive SALN after the Office of the Ombudsman restricted people’s access starting in 2018. It was affirmed by the Supreme Court in a ruling made public last July.

“‘Yung SALN, isa ‘yun sa napakalaking dahilan na ipakita mo na bukas ‘yung lahat na information tungkol sa amin, pagpapakita na walang korarpsyon,” said Robredo. “‘Yung COA report ng mga opisina, pagpapakita ‘yun na sumusunod tayo sa mga patakaran.”

Robredo also stressed that Duterte’s office serves as the most crucial government agency in fighting corruption, comparing the situation under the term of the late former President Noynoy Aquino III.

“Hindi completely nawala pero at least ‘yung sistema, in place. Ang daming mga ginawa para mabawasan ito (korapsyon). Again, hindi perpekto, ang dami pa ring kulang, pero maraming mga bagay para ipakita ‘yun,” noted Robredo.

(PM)

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