Air Force chief hit over hospital equipment issue

Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Benjamin Defensor is in hot water for allegedly sitting on procurement documents for the purchase of vital hospital equipment, which may have saved the lives of at least two patients had the apparatus been bought on time.

This was the assertion of retired Air Force Col. Eutiquio delos Reyes, who said he himself had to suffer through lack of hospital equipment when he was confined at the Air Force hospital at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

"The lack of equipment does not compensate the dedication of our Air Force doctors to treat their patients," said Delos Reyes, a member of Class 1953 of the Air Force Flying School.

He said he does not see any reason why Defensor refused to authorize the procurement of an ultrasound machine and respirators when the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) had already donated funds for the purchase of the equipment.

Defensor could not be reach for comment as of presstime.

Delos Reyes said he wrote a letter to Armed Forces chief Gen. Diomedio Villanueva to investigate the matter and impose sanctions on whoever may be responsible for the lapse.

He related that when he was confined at the Air Force hospital last year for asthma and diabetes, the doctors did their best to treat him but were hampered by the lack of equipment.

After interviewing concerned officials on the matter, he learned the hospital cannot buy vital equipment due to lack of funds and bureaucratic impediments.

Delos Reyes then sought the assistance of the PCSO, then headed by Rosario Lopez, to donate money for the purchase of equipment. The PCSO after three months, released P8.2 million for the two machines.

To make the event more auspicious, the PCSO wanted to release the money in time for the Air Force anniversary but the ceremony was moved to July 3, 2000.

Delos Reyes said he went to suppliers of the machines and told them that a public bidding will be conducted and assured them that everything shall be transparent so they can lower their prices.

The bidding for the ultrasound machine worth P5.280 million was successfully conducted on Oct. 10, 2000 and respirators worth P1.45 million on Dec. 18 last year.

He said from there nothing happened. He said as far as he knows, the papers are on the desk of Defensor.

"There seems to be an aging process at the Air Force for the processing of papers," he said, adding he has no financial interest in the transactions.