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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Resigned DBM chief should appear in next Senate hearing—Imee Marcos

Resigned DBM chief should appear in next Senate hearing—Imee Marcos

Published Aug 26, 2021 11:27 am

Senator Imelda “Imee” Marcos on Thursday, Aug. 26, said she finds it necessary for former Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado to face the next Senate blue ribbon committee hearing to shed light on some issues hounding the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)’s procurement services or DBM-PS.

Marcos said she believes Avisado, who earlier resigned from the post supposedly for health reasons, would be very much willing to testify before the committee and provide information regarding the controversy hounding the agency.

The senator pointed out in particular, the involvement of Christopher Lao, who headed the DBM-PS but resigned abruptly from the agency. Lao appeared during the panel's hearing on Wednesday, Aug. 25 and defended the procurement of the PPEs deemed overpriced saying they were the cheapest at the time it was procured.

“I’m certain that he (Avisado) would be willing (to appear). The truth of the matter is, there was some kind of an exodus in June at the DBM-PS. And we are very mystified by it,” Marcos said in an interview on ANC’s Headstart.

“If you remember sa DepEd, there was also an investigation that involved then undersecretary Lao, as well. And then together with him, in his exodus last June, were many of his directors, Kristine marie suntay and many other people, whom it was rumored were axed by Sec. Avisado,” she pointed out.

“I don’t like hypothesizing but the real truth is we have to speculate because why are all these people leaving? They suddenly appear and then they leave, is this a hijack? What is going on?” Marcos asked.

“And we are fully aware that then Sec. Avisado is very unhappy with these people. And in fact, axed them upon sitting. So it’s very important that we finally get to the bottom of these,” the senator added.

The Senate panel is currently investigating why the Department of Health (DOH) opted to transfer some P42-billion to the DBM-PS for the purchase of personal protective equipment or PPEs which has been flagged by the Commission on Audit (COA).

Marcos said these funds transferred to the DBM should be returned to DOH upon the award of contract.

The senator said she is baffled why overpriced PPEs procured by the DBM-PS are being sold to local government units (LGUs) instead of being distributed for free.

"What I find so strange is that this equipment bidded out by DBM-PS turned over to DOH is being sold and LGUs who are not receiving the PPEs for free are being compelled to buy, which is the reason why there are so much of it still in the bodega (warehouse) because no one wants to take it. It’s just too expensive,” she pointed out.

“If you ask governors, as well as city mayors, they said they had to pay. I’m praying I’m completely wrong and I misunderstood,” she lamented.

At the same time, Marcos said she believes Health Secretary Francisco Duque III should resign after President Duterte said he would accept his resignation.

“I think the President has said that very loud and clear and it’s important that he take heed from his boss,” she stressed.

Related Tags

Wendel Avisado Senate blue ribbon committee overpriced PPEs imee marcos DBM
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