Laglagan na! Dick denies dealings with Omnibus for COVID-19 testing machines

Senator Richard Gordon has denied dealing with a company that is under investigation for alleged overpricing of COVID-19 testing equipment.

Gordon said he has no ties with Omnibus Biomedical System Inc. during plenary debates on Senate Bill (SB) No. 1564 or the proposed Bayanihan to Recover as One Act.

RELATED STORY: Kakuntsaba si Dick? Company linked to overpricing blocks sale of COVID-19 testing machine for PH Red Cross’ benefit

“There is an item that came out in Politiko, and I thank the Cambridge, because the Red Cross is being accused of trying to hoard on these machines. We have no dealings with the alleged supplier,” he said.

Politiko reported that Omnibus stopped the sale of an extraction machine to Project ARK, a private sector initiative for COVID-19 testing, in favor of the Philippine Red Cross led by Gordon.

RELATED STORY: Laki ng patong! Chinese firm confirms Dick jacked up price of Red Cross’ testing equipment

Omnibus is being investigated by the National Bureau of Investigation for alleged overpricing and profiteering, on President Rodrigo Duterte’s orders.

Gordon claimed PRC deals directly with Sansure Biotech Inc., the Chinese supplier of COVID-19 testing equipment.

“We have not had any dealings with anybody else except Sansure. We went directly to the factory, to a Chinese Red Cross, and the International Federation of Red Cross with the people at Sansure who came in here,” he said, adding that PRC never bought extraction machines from any local supplier.

“We get our test kits at US$15 plus what we call the “consumables,” Mr. President. The swab as well as the consumables to the tune of about US$2 to US$3. I just wanted to clarify that,” Gordon said.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)