Mini trucks purchased through direct contracting, Imee Marcos admits

Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos on Monday admitted that her province's local government had resorted to direct contracting in purchasing 70 Foton mini trucks, which were allegedly acquired using tobacco excise tax shares.

During the continuation of the House committee on good government and public accountability inquiry on the Ilocos Norte's allegedly anomalous purchase of motor vehicles worth P66.45 million, committee chair Rep. Johnny Pimentel questioned Marcos about her knowledge on the Foton mini trucks.

The purchase of the motor vehicles was being questioned for allegedly having been procured without conducting public bidding.

The 70 Foton mini trucks alone cost P32.55 million.

Pimentel noted that while the requested brand for the mini trucks was Foton, what was delivered was Forland.

"Sa purchase request, you never put the brand. Nilalagay lang po ninyo ay specification, kung kotse, kotse, ganyan," he said.

"In this case, nilagay po ninyo 'yung brand, tapos ang dineliver ay hindi pa Foton, but Forland," he added.

But Marcos said the purchase of the Foton trucks was through direct contracting.

"With all due respect, talaga namang direct contracting ito. Kaya nakatakda na 'yung brand na Foton," she said.

Marcos said that they had to resort to direct contracting following the recommendation of the local government's Bids and Awards Committee.

The governor also said that Forland was under the brand name of Foton.

"Sa ilalim ng [Foton], napakaraming brands, modelo. Makikita natin na ito ay Foton-Forland, nasa manual po," she said.

Marcos added that one other transaction, the purchase of 40 mini trucks worth P18.6 million, was also purchased through direct contracting.

Only the five buses, worth P15.3 million, was purchased through public bidding, she said.

Marcos has earlier insisted the purchase of the mini trucks was meant to improve transport to increase productivity, market produce and access.

The governor insisted that local politics was behind the House inquiry. — MDM, GMA News