P330-k ‘limbs’ for Marawi amputees cost P1.4M at AFP hospital, says Galvez

Even the misfortune of soldiers who lost their limbs in the Marawi siege have not been spared in the multi-million-peso graft allegedly committed by high ranking government officials in the health service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

According to Armed Forces chief of staff General Carlito Galvez, prostheses for Marawi siege amputees were overpriced by up to almost five times the cost.

"Yung price ng prothesis, there is an allegation, that it only cost, galing ng Ottobock (prosthetics company), P330,000. Ang price ng isang supplier ng V. Luna is P1.4 million," Galvez said.

Galvez was the commander of the AFP Western Mindanao Command during the siege.

The ranking military officials who were ordered dismissed from service by President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday were linked to at least 17 contracts worth at least P17 million involving the anomalous procurement of overpriced medical equipment and supplies.

These officials will face court martial proceedings, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Carlito Galvez Jr. confirmed on Monday.

Galvez confirmed that AFP-Health Service Command (AFPHSC) Commander Brigadier General Edwin Leo Torrelavega and V. Luna Medical Center Commander Colonel Antonio Punzalan were removed with several others over the deals.

Galvez personally noted a delay in the delivery of medical supplies and equipment in the V. Luna Medical Center when he came to visit troops who served in Marawi on June 21.

"When I asked yung 17 na wounded from Marawi, especially sa prosthesis because the president released the money for the prosthesis, I wondered why the money for the prosthesis is not moving," he said.

"Then I was informed that there is a single entity na supplier na pagka nagbi-bid, siya yung nagri-rig ng lahat ng bidding," Galvez said.

"With that, I told ISAFP (Intelligence Service of the AFP) to investigate further," he added.

Some of the long-time suppliers of the hospital are facing pending cases before the Office of the Ombudsman.

"We will not divulge (the names) kasi it might—basta, yun ang ano natin, there is a cartel that are heading transactions in V. Luna and our end state is to really break (that)," Galvez said. —NB, GMA News