Opportunism amid crisis
The price of a test kit may vary depending on who buys it. Test kits, when bought by the private sector, can be acquired at P1.75 million. But when the government buys the same, the price skyrockets to as high as P4 million. What is the difference? Except for the brand, there is no significant difference in terms of the commodity sold. There is no value added with such an enormous disparity in the price. Here, the government seems to get a “special” price.
According to reports, a Sansure Natch CS Fully Automated Nucleic Acid Extraction System purchased by the private sector for Project ARK (antibody rapid test kits) priced at P1.75 million per unit and the Thermo Scientific King Fisher Flex Automated Nucleic Acid Extraction Machine, amounting to P4 million per unit. The overprice was flagged by Lacson during the Senate committee of the whole hearing on Tuesday. This has bothered President Duterte, according to his spokesperson, and he wants an investigation. (Inquirer.net)
As revealed by DILG spokesperson Jonathan Malaya, there are 42 barangay officials who will face criminal charges for anomalies in the distribution of the cash aid under the Special Amelioration Program.
In the local scene, some camps hurl allegations of corruption, conflicts of interest, and cover-ups against some personalities who are in the frontline of Bohol’s fight against COVID-19.
All the foregoing allegations of corruption deserve a thorough investigation. It is the highest form of betrayal of public trust committed by a person who is entrusted with governmental power supposedly to be exercised for the common good but only to be abused and used as a tool to enrich himself while the rest of the country suffer in hunger and people die of the dreaded disease.
Indeed, crisis brings out the best in many but brings out the worst in others. To those who have shown their best, you are our heroes. But to those who have used their power and position for self-aggrandizement, you deserve a place behind bars. – By ATTY. GREG BORJA AUSTRAL, CPA