Andaya: Reyes helped craft law on procurement reforms

Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya has credited Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes for what he described as key role in the crafting of a landmark law on procurement reforms to eradicate corruption in government.

In a statement, Andaya, chairman of the House committee on appropriations, said Reyes personally appeared at the House of Representatives and took part in the deliberations of the proposed legislation several times to expose anomalies in the purchase of military firearms, ammunition, equipment and other military items.

"The Department of Defense actively took part in the legislation of the (procurement reform) law last year. They gave us the time," Andaya said.

"We are glad to hear from the defense officials that they recognized the existence of corruption in their agency. We thought they would protect their own kind," he added.

During the House hearings, Andaya said Reyes came up with solutions to stop corruption not only in the Armed Forces but also in all government agencies.

"The secretary has done his part. He has done something great for the nation in aid of legislation to bring in major reforms," he said.

Andaya said various Southeast Asian and European countries wanted to adopt provisions of the procurement law.

The lawmaker suggested that Navy Ltsg. Antonio Trillanes, spokesman of the Magdalo group behind the July 26 mutiny, read the law.

"Had they known this law, the mutiny would not have happened," said Andaya, who also sponsored the bill for salary increases of soldiers.