JV hints approval of BHS project could be connected with 2016 polls
Like the P3.5-billion Dengvaxia fund, Senator JV Ejercito also linked the alleged hasty approval of the P8.1 billion approval of the barangay health station (BHS) to the 2016 elections.
Senators discovered during Wednesday’s hearing of the Senate committee on health that the special allotment release order (Saro) for Dengvaxia and the BHS was released on December 29, 2015.
READ: Senators find link between Dengvaxia, health station projects
The aborted Dengvaxia program and the allegedly anomalous BHS project of the Department of Health both started during the past administration.
“So either coincidence ito pero parang too much of a coincidence kasi sabay na sabay,” Ejercito told reporters after the hearing.
(So it’s either coincidence, but it looks like too much of a coincidence because [the Saro was released on the same date.])
“So bago ho ito mag-eleksyon kumbaga hinabol ito bago mag 2016, siguro para ma-implement. Pero hindi natin alam basta sabay po sya ng Dengvaxia,” he added.
(So this happened prior to elections so they can implement it. But we don’t know, what we know is that [the BHS and Dengvaxia Saro] were released at the same time)
Asked if the release of funds was rushed, the senator said, “I would say so kasi December 29, 2015 noong lumabas yung Saro so that’s the last day of 2016 so kasabay din po ito ng Dengvaxia.”
But how can the past administration benefit from the said fund when construction work for the BHS project could not be completed before the 2016 elections?
“Bakit hinabol?” Ejercito asked, noting that “miracles” also happen on some infrastructure projects.
“But obviously it was also done in haste medyo mablis-bilis din ang pagkaka-bigay at talagang halos magkasabay talaga sila ng Dengvaxia ,” he added. /jpv
