Computer deal aboveboard, Palace says

Malacañang officials on Thursday denied allegations that there were irregularities in the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office’s (PCDSPO) purchase of P1.6 million worth of laptop computers. In an interview with reporters, PCDSPO head Ricky Carandang said the procurement of 24 laptops was aboveboard, noting that his office entered into a negotiated sale after two failed biddings. “Nagkaroon tayo ng dalawang failed biddings. Under procurement rules, after two failed biddings, you can enter into a negotiated sale. Pagkatapos ‘non pumasok kami sa negotiated sale P1.6-million pesos for 24 Apple computers," he said. He said they published the invitation in a daily newspaper but not enough bidders attended the bidding. Carandang was reacting to the claims of two opposition lawmakers from the House of Representatives that an assistant secretary in a government office had resigned after he was asked to take part in an alleged illegal purchase of computers. News reports identified the assistant secretary as Reginald Tongol, former head of the PCDSPO’s Bids and Awards Committee. Carandang said the laptop computers only cost an average of P66,000 to P67,000 per unit. “Pag pumunta po kayo doon sa supplier at bumili kayo ng tingi-tingi, makikita n’yo na it’s actually much more expensive than that. ‘Yung pinakamura na mabibili n’yo ngayon sa tindahan is P75,000. So we actually saved money during the procurement process at aboveboard po, sumunod tayo sa lahat ng proseso. So there’s no overpricing at all," he explained. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte gave the same explanation when asked about the matter during the press briefing earlier in the day. “We computed it, it comes to P66,000 per computer. May desktops, may laptops," she said. She added that Carandang was not part of the BAC that procured the computers. “He did not sign anything. The procurement, the whole committee, he doesn't even vote kung bibilhin o hindi, kung itong supplier na ito ang aawardan. It's a committee that votes. So his signature is not actually needed," she said. On Wednesday, House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman said an assistant secretary in a certain government agency, whom he did not identify, had quit his job after he was forced to sign documents for the illegal purchase of computers. This was echoed by Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay, who said based on the information reaching her, the office’s secretary forced his subordinate to resign if he refuses to sign the documents. Carandang confirmed that Tongol resigned from the PCDSPO, but it was after he told him to shape up after committing “one mistake after another." Valte said Tongol, as head of the BAC, was asked last year by Carandang to procure equipment for the PCDSPO. “So nagbigay po siya (Carandang) ng timeline doon sa mga bagay na ipo-procure dahil nga po we understood that it had to go through the bidding process. Despite being given the instructions, the BAC was only convened in March and the equipment, specifically the laptops na urgent po ‘yung pangangailangan because it’s a communications office, nag-start lang po sila ng bidding noong May 12," she said. She said not all of the laptops have been delivered. “Only a partial delivery has been made and even the other items that were lined up for procurement that was settled in January, hanggang ngayon po, Agosto na, wala pa rin. Ang dami po kasing mga naiwan na deliverables," Valte said. Carandang said President Benigno Aquino III, who appointed Tongol, has already been informed of the issue. “I told him na baka may lumabas na istoryang ganon and he’s confident naman na wala tayong ginagawang mali. So he said, okay, just explain your side, which is what I’m doing now," he said. — KBK, GMA News