Sen. Raffy Tulfo questioned the allegedly overpriced body cameras purchased by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) in 2020, each costing as much as P879,000.
During the Department of Transportation’s budget hearing on Thursday, October 9, the senator exposed the PPA’s purchase of 191 body cameras from a little-known supplier, Boston Homes, under a P168-million contract.
‘Skandaloso na masyado ito,’ Tulfo said, calling the procurement ‘too scandalous.’
When his office went to the company’s address, they found that Boston Homes was merely an apartment. The winning bidder also had a startup capital of only P10 million.
Repeat purchases. The Commission on Audit had previously flagged Boston Homes for delivering defective equipment to the Environmental Management Bureau in 2020.
Despite that the PPA awarded Boston Homes another contract the following year, in 2021, for 164 more body cameras – this time priced even higher.
Tulfo said the deal amounted to P168 million, translating to more than P1 million per unit.
PPA defends procurement
At the hearing, Tulfo grilled PPA General Manager Jay Santiago over the body camera procurement.
Santiago, who initially wanted to verify the amounts Tulfo mentioned, told senators the equipment cost included not only the cameras but also an integrated operating system compatible with the agency’s CCTV network.
He said each winning bid undergoes assessment before final approval.
Tulfo, however, questioned why such post-bidding assessment failed to detect red flags with the supplier. He then suggested that those involved in the evaluation be dismissed.
DOTr acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez told the committee he would investigate the issue personally.