Iloilo First District Representative Janette Garin does not remember being involved in the procurement of “too expensive” personal protective equipment (PPE) during the Aquino administration.
During the House Committee on Appropriations hearing on Thursday, Sept. 2, said she was “shocked” by the remarks of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.
“Nagulat ako, lumabas si Sec. Harry Roque at nagkaroon ng pagbibintang na napakamahal daw ng PPEs na binili noong nakaraang administrasyon.”
Garin then asked DOH Secretary Francisco Duque to investigate Roque’s claim that the PPEs during the previous administration were bought at more thanP3,000 each, way higher than the P1,950 per piece PPE purchased by the Duterte administration during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I am not in the DOH anymore, but can Secretary Duque quickly initiate an investigation into this allegation and look into the following: proper po ba ang procurement process na nangyari? Sinu-sino po ba ang involved sa process? Was this flagged by the Commission on Audit?” she said.
“Meron po bang overpricing? Is the supplier a legitimate company or not? And lastly, are these PPEs, can you compare these apples to apples with the current PPEs that the (PS-DBM Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management) is procuring?” she added.
Garin served as DOH secretary from February 2017 to June 2016.
In response, Duque said he would investigate the allegation.
“Yes, we will have this looked into and ferret out the truth… it’s necessary to resolve this issue so we will do that.”IMT
