Roque tells Drilon: Let’s focus on issue of overpriced PPE, not resort to name-calling

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque called on Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon to not resort to name-calling and focus on the issue regarding the purchase of allegedly overpriced medical supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the pandemic.

Drilon earlier criticized Roque for urging him to explain the purchase of PPEs during the Aquino administration, which the spokesman said were priced higher than those procured during the Duterte administration.

The senator had likened Roque to a “troll” and called his remarks a “malicious,” “unmanly,” and “desperate” attempt to divert attention from the alleged overpriced medical supplies.

“Hindi kita stan, Senator Drilon. Ang issue ay overpricing, eh natural ang titingnan natin ay magkano ‘yung biniling exact same PPE ng nakalipas na administrasyon. Lumalabas na wala naman palang overpricing,” Roque said in a Palace briefing.

(The issue is overpricing so it’s only natural to compare the prices with which the items were bought during the separate administrations. As it turns out, there is no overpricing.)

“So focus na lang tayo sa tunay na issue, nasaan ang overpricing? Wala. Let’s leave it at that,” he said.

(Let’s focus on the true issue. Where is the overpricing? Nowhere. Let’s leave it at that.)

“Sana kung tayo ay magdedebate, pag-usapan na lang natin ang facts, tama na ‘yang kung anu-anong pangalang ginagamit. Mukhang hindi niyo naman naintindihan kung ano ibig sabihin ng troll,” Roque continued.

(If we are going to debate, let’s just discuss facts. Let’s do away with the name-calling. It seems you did not even understand the meaning of troll.)

Roque earlier claimed that the Aquino administration purchased personal protective equipment at an even more expensive price, ranging from P3,500 to P3,800, while those bought under the Duterte administration are only P1,950.

“Hindi ko naman sinasabi na ‘yung P3,500 ay overpriced. Definitely what I’m saying is P1,950 is not overpriced given that noong hindi pa masyadong matagal na panahon ay bumili sila ng P3,500 at P3,800,” the Palace official said.

(I’m not saying that the P3,500 is overpriced. I’m saying that the P1,950 is not overpriced given that the previous administration bought P3,500 worth of PPEs.)

Senator Risa Hontiveros had questioned the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) for its procurement of PPEs from Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. which she said was marked by the Taiwanese government for financial fraud.

As early as September 2020, Senator Drilon has flagged the government’s procurement of medical supplies, which he said were allegedly overpriced by P415.2 million.

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