Belmonte: No overpriced computers

MANILA, Philippines - Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. yesterday denied reports that the laptop computers distributed to congressmen last year were overpriced, adding that the transaction was cleared with the Commission on Audit (COA).

Belmonte was reacting to reports that two laptops, amounting to P300,000 or a total of P75 million, were given to each lawmaker. The laptop computers were supposed to be part of the E-District project that would allow the districts to directly call lawmakers for free via the Voice Over Internet Protocol. The project also aimed to save on communication costs.

He added that the transaction for the purchase of the computers was completed under the term of his predecessor, former Davao City representative Prospero Nograles.

“I didn’t not have personal knowledge of it (contract),” he said, adding he instructed House Secretary General Marilyn Barua-Yap to submit a comprehensive report on the matter.

When contacted by The STAR, Nograles denied there was irregularity in the acquisition of the computers.

“The House will never pay if there are no deliveries or if there is any allegation of over price,” Nograles said.

“All items supplied to the house are under close supervision scrutiny by the administration and done thru public transparent bidding,” he said.

An Waray party-list Rep. Florencio Noel, chairman of the House committee on accounts, laughed of the reports saying the computation of the alleged overprice was made by simply dividing the number of laptops with the total cost of the project.