The National Printing Office. (Photo from its FACEBOOK page)
Whatever happened to the probe into allegedly anomalous transactions that the National Printing Office (NPO) had with three private printing firms?
Secretary Martin Andanar of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) should answer that question, the Filipino Alliance for Transparency and Empowerment (FATE) said in a statement on Saturday.
It was Andanar who had ordered PCOO Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Enrique Tandan to conduct the investigation and complete it in two weeks, FATE pointed out.
According to the group, the NPO already has a P74 million contract with Western Visayas Printing Corp. (WVPC), and yet it granted work orders to three other firms – Best Forms Security Printer for P34 million, Tri-Print Work for P27 million, and Metro Color for P15 million.
The group insisted that the NPO, as a self-sustaining agency, should let its own workers do printing jobs.
Last Nov. 21, Tandan then asked NPO Director Francisco Vales Jr. to furnish him the papers regarding the arrangements with WVPC and the three other firms.
“What happened to the investigation? We hope that our appeal will not fall into deaf ears,” FATE said.
FATE also urged Andanar to also look into allegations that there were individuals allegedly acting as “collectors” or “middlemen” in NPO printing contracts.
FATE has suggested that the probe ordered by Andanar should not only focus on redundant printing orders but should also ascertain who could be held liable for the anomalous transactions.
The group also urged the Commission on Audit (COA) to look into the matter. –ATM