Push Admin

VP Robredo slams Palace's 'lame attempt' to divert overpriced medical supply issue

Article (news)

Jasmin Romero, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Vice President Leni Robredo and Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. " src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/09/05/20210905-robredo-roque.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Vice President Leni Robredo and Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.<em> Jay Ganzon, OVP/Arman Baylon, Presidential Photo</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday called Malacañang&#x27;s move to question the past administration’s purchase of personal protective equipment, a “lame attempt” to divert the issue hounding the current administration.</p><p>Robredo&#x27;s remarks came after Malacañang said the Aquino administration bought PPEs at a costlier P3,500 to P3,800 per set, just as senators questioned the current administration’s purchase of medical supplies, including allegedly overpriced PPEs at P1,700 per set, for the pandemic.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/01/21/govt-says-aquino-admin-bought-costlier-ppes">Facing Senate probe, gov&#x27;t claims Aquino admin bought costlier gear</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/02/21/roque-denies-accusing-aquino-govt-of-overpricing">Palace spox denies alleging &#x27;overpricing&#x27; in Aquino admin&#x27;s PPE purchases</a></li></ul><p>“Napaka-lame attempt naman nito para i-divert ang usapan,” said Robredo in her weekly radio show.</p><p>(It&#x27;s a lame attempt to divert the discussion.)</p><p>Robredo said the procurement of the pricier PPEs during the Aquino administration was aboveboard, unlike the Duterte administration&#x27;s purchase which was done without public bidding and whose suppliers and background are being questioned.</p><p>“Yung nanalo (ng deal) ngayon, magkano ba pinanalunan niya? Mga 10 billion. Bagong organized ang kumpanya, napakababa ng capitalization, walang opisina tapos ang mga tao pa na kabahagi ng kompanya ay meron pang criminal record sa Taiwan. Ang daming kwestyon,” she said.</p><p>(The company that won the deal, how much was the contract? Around P10 billion. The firm was newly organized, had a low capital, no office, and employees who have criminal record in Taiwan. There are too many questions.)</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/business/09/01/21/hontiveros-2-top-pharmally-officials-allegedly-wanted-in-taiwan">Hontiveros says 2 top Pharmally officials allegedly wanted in Taiwan</a></li></ul><p>She added that current officials should have done their due diligence and determined whether the foreign suppliers were reliable and had a good background.</p><p>Robredo said Malacañang could have tapped local suppliers.</p><p>“Ang pinaguusapan dito ay napakalaking pera eh, isang company lang ito, billion. Di nga P1 billion ang budget namin (OVP) pero ang dami naming napo-provide. Noong nagkakaubusan, nag-local suppliers pa kami para nagbibigay pa kami ng trabaho sa mga Pilipino. Pero ito, ang dami nang questionable, hindi pa Pilipino ang nakinabang,” she said.</p><p>(We&#x27;re talk about such a hug money for one company, billions. Our (OVP) budget is not even P1 billion but we can provide so much. When things were in short supply, we gave jobs to Filipinos. In this issue, there are so many questionable things and Filipinos did not even benefit.)</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/02/21/roque-denies-accusing-aquino-govt-of-overpricing">Palace spox denies alleging &#x27;overpricing&#x27; in Aquino admin&#x27;s PPE purchases</a></li></ul><p>Duterte last week said the Senate should not investigate ongoing programs, accusing senators of using the probe &quot;for no purpose at all but to create noise.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/03/21/duterte-pinatitigil-ang-senate-probe-vs-overpriced-ppes">Imbestigasyon sa &#x27;overpriced&#x27; PPEs pinahihinto ni Duterte; mga senador dedma</a></li></ul><p>Robredo belongs to the same political party as the late former President Benigno Aquino.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1765139" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday called Malacañang's move to question the past administration’s purchase of PPEs a 'lame attempt' to divert the issue hounding the current administration.

VP Robredo slams Palace's 'lame attempt' to divert overpriced medical supply issue

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

News

VP Robredo slams Palace's 'lame attempt' to divert overpriced medical supply issue

Jasmin Romero,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 05, 2021 01:47 PM PHT

Read More:

Leni Robredo

Rodrigo Duterte

Harry Roque

PPE

DOH

DBM

overpriced PPEs

corruption

COVID19

COVID 19

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.