Transparency group urges speed on probe of anomalous NPO deal

A group advocating for transparency and accountability in the government has urged Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar to expedite the investigation on personalities allegedly acting as middlemen-protectors at the National Printing Office (NPO).

Filipino Alliance for Transparency and Empowerment (FATE) in a statement on Wednesday said the investigation ordered by Andanar should cover all issues inside NPO as well as identify and charge those involved in the agency’s questionable contracts.

“NPO workers should be the one benefiting from the self-sustaining agency,” said FATE, an advocacy group registered at the Securities and Exchange Commission. “The workers’ union in NPO is asking ‘where are the printing jobs’ as promised to them?”

The group said the investigation should not only focus on the orders given to other printing companies but also determine who were liable for the alleged anomalous transactions, specifically the P66-million contract for the printing of Social Security System forms.

The group earlier called on the Commission on Audit to look into reported work orders entered into by NPO with private printing firms despite an existing contract with another printing company.

“We have a government institution which has the capability to print public documents because of their printing machines, pero bakit kailangang ipakontrata pa sa pribado? (but why do they still need to sign a contract with a private firm?),” said FATE.

“Makikita natin na malaki talaga ang anomalya sa mga tauhan ng NPO (We can see there are big anomalies involving some people in the NPO),” it added.