Palace denies buying overpriced pandemic supplies from Pharmally

Malacañang on Wednesday denied that the Duterte administration bought overpriced personal protective equipment (PPE) worth P1,700 each amid the pandemic, saying the Aquino administration bought PPEs at a higher cost.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque was referring to at least P8.6 billion worth of face mask, face shield and PPEs that the government bought amid the COVID-19 pandemic from a small firm identified as Pharmally that is under the scrutiny of senators.

Roque said the Aquino administration bought PPEs worth above P3,000 each in 2015 and 2016.

"Senator [Franklin] Drilon, bakit hindi mo tanungin ang mga kakampi mo (why don't you ask your allies)," the Palace official said.

"Merong kumita, pero hindi sa administrasyon (Somebody made money, and it is not with the administration)," he added.

"Ultimately, it is the price and the specification. Presyo po at kalidad ang titingnan, maging sino ka man (Price and quality matter, whoever you are.)," Roque said.

The Senate is probing as to why Pharmally, which had a paid-up capital worth around P625,000, was able to secure billions worth of government contracts involving pandemic supplies.

In a Senate hearing last week, Senator Richard Gordon played an RTVM footage showing Chinese businessman Michael Yang and President Rodrigo Duterte having a meeting with Pharmally officials. Yang was former presidential adviser on economic affairs.

Duterte on Monday defended Yang, saying he doesn't get money from the Chinese businessman.

Roque echoed this on Wednesday.

"There is no evidence of overpricing. Otherwise, the President will fire those involved even without a Senate investigation," Roque said.

"What mattered at that time is which supplier can deliver supplies at the most affordable price, of which high quality as soon as possible. This was under emergency bidding, under both the emergency bidding provision of the RA 9189 (Procurement law) and Bayanihan 1," Roque added.

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday meanwhile urged the Department of Budget and Management to stop accepting proposals from Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation due to its ties with Pharmally International Holdings Corporation, which was supposedly charged with financial fraud. —KG/RSJ, GMA News