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MANILA, Philippines – The alleged evidence, presented by Senator Risa Hontiveros, of an alleged overpricing on the government’s purchase of personal protective equipment is simply a “publicity stunt” to contaminate the administration, a lawmaker said Thursday.
Hontiveros previously claimed that the government may have lost at least P1 billion in taxpayer money after the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) bought allegedly overpriced personal protective equipment (PPE) from five Chinese companies.
She identified 11 contracts that DBM entered into in April and May to purchase millions of personal protective equipment (PPE).
But Vice President Rodante Marcoleta said that what Hontiveros presented to the media only shows that she has no evidence and “cannot prove an unsubstantiated claim.”
“Senator Hontiveros is enraged at criticism for not presenting hard evidence to back up her claims. However, what he presented to the media only confirmed what we have known from the beginning; it has no proof and cannot prove an unfounded claim of overpricing because there is none, ”it said in a statement.
He said none of the documents show that the PPE purchased was too expensive.
“Something can only be considered too expensive if it can be shown that other companies, Philippine or not, supplied the government with personal protective equipment with the same specifications, quality and availability of stock at lower prices,” said Marcoleta.
“Without a clear price comparison, the overpricing allegations are simply figments of your imagination,” he added.
Marcoleta said the senator could have presented a comparative matrix supported by receipts or other documents showing the price disparity she claims.
The senator’s claim that the Philippine General Hospital bought PPE at a much lower price could only belong to old stock at the outlets, Marcoleta said.
This is because no Philippine company could meet the government’s mass emergency requirements, he added.
“It is a fact that the prices of test equipment and personal protective equipment rose astronomically around April and May, as countries tried to outbid each other for much-needed supplies for their cutting edge lines. Prices only stabilized when production began to meet demand in July-August, “said the legislator from the party list.
EDV
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