Photo Release

Kiko wants Philippine United Technic Corp. rep subpoenaed: Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan wants Dennis Manalastas of the Philippine United Technic Corporation (PUTC) to appear in the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing to shed light on the issue of the purchase of test kits by the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM). During the inquiry of the Blue Ribbon Committee into the utilization of the Department of Health Covid-19 funds Tuesday, October 19, 2021, Pangilinan followed up on his request to have a subpoena issued to Manalastas, noting that Manalastas’ name came out in a number of communications between PS-DBM and BGI Schenzhen as being a representative of PUTC. “Also for the information of our colleagues, PUTC was also involved in another controversy with the PCSO (Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office). Apparently, the bids and awards committee resigned en masse because of the contract that was awarded to them July 21, 2020. The Special Bids and Awards Committee disqualified PUTC and the joint venture and then they were forced to resign. So is this another scandal or is this another controversy involving PUTC apart from this involvement in the Pharmally (Pharmaceutical Corp.) and the testing kits?” Pangilinan said. Rodolfo Quimbo, director general of the Blue Ribbon Committee, informed the senator that the subpoena was not properly served because nobody was present in the office address provided to receive it and the email address blocked the invitation and subpoena sent by the committee. (Screen grab/Senate PRIB)