Quezon City exec hits black propaganda

MANILA, Philippines — An official of the Quezon City government yesterday decried false allegations regarding food packs procured last December.

In a statement, city legal head Orlando Paolo Casimiro refuted allegations that the local government procured overpriced food packs that were distributed to residents affected by the pandemic.

“As the election season intensifies, certain individuals are once again making false allegations against the Quezon City government, in a bitter attempt to advance their political agenda,” he said, noting that similar allegations in the past have already been proven false.

“Consistent with their modus operandi, they are once again using a purchase order made last December 2020 to add a tinge of legitimacy to their disinformation. Ironically, every Filipino knows that the prices of food and grocery items increase every Christmas season,” he added.

Casimiro noted that the prices of goods at the time the purchase order was made was much higher than the current market prices being used as a point of comparison.

“Aside from this oversimplified comparison of prices, it is with obvious malice that our detractors purposely left out other items in their computation. From a total of 12 items in the official procurement, only nine items were included in their calculation,” he said.

“Also consciously omitted are the indispensable packaging costs, the labor and logistical costs of handling, repacking and delivery, costs of warehousing, and the supplier’s taxes,” Casimiro added.

The city official also pointed out that the Commission on Audit (COA) has already examined the accounts of the city government, including this particular transaction.

He noted that COA has given the local government its highest rating in its history.

“Once again, therefore, we ask the same question we have fielded before: who will we believe? COA or paid trolls?” Casimiro said.