by Sherrie Ann Torres
VERA Files (Two Parts)
She usually works from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday. But these days, Rosario “Bea” Obsequio Riel, director of the Internal Audit Department (IAD) of the House of Reprentatives, stays until three in the morning.
Riel is compiling evidence for a case she is set to file against a supplier who sold the House last year what she discovered were overpriced and substandard fire extinguishers.
The feisty internal auditor will also file before the Office of the Ombudsman graft charges against former Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Artemio Adasa Jr., who is now House deputy secretary general for operations. Adasa was chair of the chamber’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) at the time the contract was awarded to First Defense Enterprises (FDE) owned by Leonor Dulay.
Compared to many other government deals, the fire extinguishers transaction, totalling P4.9 million, is considered small. But what makes it noteworthy is Riel’s success in convincing her superiors, including Speaker Prospero Nograles, to terminate a deal overpriced by more than 150 percent—or about P3 million—by a supplier who apparently bagged the contract because of the latter’s ties with the BAC chair.
Click here (VERA Files) for the full article. Part two of this special report is also in VERA Files website.
overpriced items sa house of congress????
bago pa ba ‘to? eh di ba dito nakatira at nagtatambay ang mga buwaya, buwitre, ahas, kapit-tuko, hunyango, baboy etc etc etc…..
mas bago sigurong report kung sino pa ang matitinong pulitiko natin sa kongreso na di kabahagi sa mga anomalya…
yung fingerprint voting at security systems upgrade ay overpriced din at project pa ng hugas-kamay na si pilato…este joe de v.
yung additional building, upliftment and improvement budget ng kongreso…mas maganda binigay na lang sa mass housing or poverty alleviation programs kasi ganun din kahit gaano ang pagpapaganda ng bahay (lower house) kung ang nakatira ay mga %^&*(@#$%!!! wala ring saysay
sona na naman…labasan na naman ang mga hayup este asal hayup na pulitiko na animoy mga artista sa hollywood na nagpapagandahan ng bihis samantalang ang kanilang mga constituents ay hikahos sa hirap at hindi alam kung paano pa tatawid sa gutom sa maghapon o hahagilip ng konting pera pambili ng school supplies sa pasukan….
house of congress…batasang pambansa…mababang kapulungan…walang pinagkaiba sa manila zoo???
Slowly but surely, more brave souls are now coming out in the open to reveal the anomalies in the government. But then, what about all the past scandals and investigation from day one of these criminals in office? Let’s start with the Telecom scam.
sana dumami pa sila…
There should be meritorious awards given to these whistleblowers to encourage more to come. There should be a bill passed in congress to protect them as well.
I dont think this is an isolated case in the house of tongress. Overpricing in govt transactions is common and given, it only differs in the amount of greed that goes with it. Is it according to Jun Lozada that moderate greed is alright, but astronomical one is unacceptable? Hindi kaya hindi tama ang partihan? Well, kung ang commission on audit, wala pa yatang kaso na umasenso, ito pa kayang galing sa internal auditor? Incidentally, anyone knows what happened to the case of most expensivie boulevard, the Macapagal one which was found overpriced humongously. Hearing so many investigations or cases filed against corrupt people is already sickening and tiring, what we really need are results.
Pwede bang magsabay-sabay na ng rebelasyon ng kurakutan sa bawat sangay ng gobyerno? Yung tipong lahat ng opisinang nasa ilalim ni Pandak ay ibubuhos ang kanilang nalalaman sa katiwalian, kuntodo ebidensiya. Pag-usapan at ilahad ng sabay-sabay.
Pangunahan ng mga FSGO na siguradong may mga alaga pa rin sa mga hinwakan nilang departamento. Masaya yan.
Tignan ko lang kug hindi mataranta ang mga animal diyan sa Malakanyang.
Sus! Mr. TT.
Meron pa bang matatangi sa ilalim ng saya ni gloria? Parang kagaw ‘yan, eh. Daling magkahawahawa.
Mabilis ang pagkalat ng kati at siyempre, pag kinamot mo, ano’ng sarap!
All it may really takes is to Punish Few of them “scalawags” severely just to give notice to the would be scalawags to watch their backs…that may eventually get the message thru their Thick Heads that somehow these Practices have to Stop, before it is too Late..or is it already late?..I believe there is still plenty of time…but whose to Punish them? That is the question???
I hope itong bagong whistle blower di magagaya doon sa mga whistle blower gaya ni Aiza Ramirez, Jun Lozada, Cam, et al na sila pa ang pinapalabas na kriminal when it turns out na kasangkot iyong mga dating ulupong na squatter sa Malacanang. Heaven forbid!
PSB: There should be meritorious awards given to these whistleblowers to encourage more to come.
*****
No dice, PSB. Imposibleng mangyari under the criminal who is trying to cover the traces of their involvement in the crimes being committed under everyone’s nose. Pag medyo delikado iyong mga baboy, pihado, iyong whistle blower ang ipapakulong.
Kawawang bansa!
P4.9 million, barya lang sa kanila kung tutuusin subalit sa aming mga pobre, kayamanan na itong maituturing.
‘Langya talaga. Walang patawad ang mga hudas na linta!
Sa darating na eleksiyon, huwag nang iboto ang sino mang napadikit at hayagang kapanalig ni gloria. Tama nang niloko nila tayo ng halos sampung taon at huwang nating hayaang busabusin tayo habang panahon.
Mula sa pinakamababa hanggang sa pinakamataas na elective position, dapat sa kanila, butata!
barya-barya na nga lang (sa kanila) pinag-interesan pa.
Talagan ang mga buwaya!!!
Walang patawad ha!
Pero magandang news from Tongress ang lumalaban sa mga buwaya! Sana ay may lakas si Bea na lumaban sa mga kurakots ng Tongress hanggang sa huli. Kahit maliit o malaking halaga ang involved basta iligal ay ayos na ayos ang laban.
Pwede bang ilabas na lahat ang kurakutan galore sa loob ng Tongress?
If you guys notice, scandals in this evil government never end. But one is overtaken by another…endless. There are no closures yet to the past scandals and investigations and we have another “noodle” scandal. For unknown reason, Mar Roxas did not continue the hearing. Atong Ang’s related to the noodle company owner, and he asked a padrino, a congressman from Northern Luzon, to request Roxas to take it easy on the case.
There was also no quorum on the Senate hearing on C-5 Road extension anomaly Monday. Unlike the most recent hearing, only six senators showed up. Why? Was it because El Shaddai’s Mike Velarde’s company was involved as well as SM tycoon owner Henry Sy?
A bit of info:
Halon 1211 and Halon 1301 are propellants used in fire extinguishers and were preferred over carbon dioxide types and other dry chemical types because they don’t leave residues. Specifically intended for use in electrical/electronic fires. But these chemicals deplete ozone and have atmospheric life of about 400 years. Imagine 400 years of nonstop ozone destruction. That’s why it was totally banned in Europe and Australia. It is still being used in the US since US refuses to sign the Tokyo Protocol. Of course, RP does what the US does, never mind if we signed the protocol.
You can recognize Halon easily because the cylinders are painted yellow unlike the common ones which are red. Halon has been replaced by Halotron for its “cleaner” discharge thus it is used by many commercial and residential customers with expensive electronic appliances. When Europe shifted from Halon to Halotron in the 70s, all Halon tanks were shipped from Europe to US, where it is still being used.
As mentioned in VERA files, Palmer bidded at about half the price (and even lower) than that of the winner, FDE. I am familiar with Palmer since I bought many fire extinguishers from this company. They are now supplying US-made Amerex Halotron unlike those of the bid winners, who still use Halon.
The price of P20,000 to P40,000 for 10- and 20-lb tanks, respectively, is totally unbelievable. I had 2 50-lb cartwheeled tanks which only cost P25,000 each and one 100-pounder on wheels at P40,000.
Ask any businessman who undergoes annual pre-registration inspection by the BFP. They know the prices of these products because they buy regularly from the inspectors themselves, to facilitate processing of Mayor’s permits, Certificate of Fire Inspection, OSHC, etc.
Masyado nang garapal diyan sa Kongreso. Mga cute ang ina ninyo!
P20k to P40k for 10 and 20 lb tanks?
Sobra naman ‘yan, uy!
Bakit hindi na lang ginawang P200k to P400k para lubos lubos na over priced?
Pasimple pa ang mga kawatan, eh gusto nila sabog lagi ang kanilang lukbutan sa sobrang kasibaan!
There should be meritorious awards given to these whistleblowers to encourage more to come. There should be a bill passed in congress to protect them as well. – parasabayan
Bah, why should I protect our enemies and those who go against us?
Ano, bale? Delihensiya namin eh, bubulilyasuhin nila? Para ano’t suportado namin at kami ni ma’am?
Manigas!
what is the relationship between Artemio Adasa Jr and Leonor Dulay? do they live together?
Is this Artemio related to Atty. Homobono Adasa or Adaza?
4.9M only? hmmmm… parang may nag moderate ng GREED!!!!!