15 revelations about coronavirus tests that emerged in the Chamber

A marathon public view of almost 11 hours in the House of Representatives Health Commission he threw – with statements under oath – the official version of Strength and the Task Force from Coronavirus about the failed attempt to buy 1 million tests for $ 38 million from a construction company.

What at the time was dismissed as gossip by the coordinator of the Task Force, Dr. Segundo Rodríguez, turned into a scandal evidenced by statements and documents confirming a transaction that in a matter of hours culminated in the deposit of $ 19 million in the bank account of a contractor still without experience in the field of health. In the almost 11 hours of cameral sight they testified Adil Rosa Rivera, former assistant secretary of health administration, Graciela Malavé, alternate interagency coordinator of Health before the Emergency Operations Center, and Mariel Rivera Rivera, Health purchasing analyst. They all testified under oath. Rosa Rivera was offered immunity and will have two days to analyze the cameral commission’s offer.

Here we highlight the most important points of the cameral view:

1. Adil Rosa, former assistant secretary of health administration, was the person who authorized the acquisition of the tests with the company APEX. He could not prove with evidence that he had the authorization of the then secretary, CQuiñones de Longo onception
2. The doctors Segundo Rodríguez and Luis Salgado, of the Task Force adviser to the Governor, they recommended suppliers and then they recommended the award to whom the Department of Health should buy, according to testimony of Adil Rosa and of Mariel Rivera
3. The interim secretary of Health at the time, Concepción Quiñones de Longo was not consulted about the evidence purchases, according to testimony of Graciela Malavé
4. The original cost of the tests offered by APEX was $ 42, and they offered a reduction to $ 38, if they advanced half the payment ($ 19 million)
5. They asked Apex for proposals on March 24 and asked the rest of the companies after they had awarded the purchase of the million tests
6. They had trial offers of up to $ 10 but decided to buy it for $ 38 from Apex, on the recommendation of Dr. Rodríguez
7. Purchasing analyst at the Health Department, who processed the purchase of the $ 38 million, agrees not to know all the legal details, or regulations, of his work. His previous job was trusted by the State Election Commission
8. Juan Maldonado also offered respirators
9. In less than 24 hours: The transaction is evaluated, a quote is made, certifications are obtained from the company that makes the proposal, 50% is certified and at the same time the payment is made
10. Task Force has a legal advisor (identified as Mr. Escobar) and this person was the one who notified Health officials of the cancellation of the purchase order
11. No one in the Health Department met with an APEX representative
12. The Department of Justice requests documents from Graciela Malavé (alternate interagency coordinator of Health before the Center for Emergency Operations) and the House of Representatives.
13. Campaign Director of Wanda Vázquez, Jorge Dávila refers suppliers to Mabel Cabeza who directs Health purchases from Fortaleza. The transaction did not go through.
    Email to refer to Jorge Dávila –
14. Mabel Cabeza even had an email from Fortaleza as she was considered indispensable.
15. Immunity offered to Adil Rosa

Apex, whose expertise was in construction, came to make his proposal through Juan Maldonado, who sent a text message to Dr. Rodríguez. Maldonado, former director of Maritime Transport who left that public office in the middle of another scandal, approached Dr. Rodríguez by reference to the former legislative adviser and former contractor of the Medical Sciences Campus, Eduardo “Tito” Laureano.

Before concluding the public hearing, the president of the Health Commission, Juan Oscar Morales highlighted the painful situation, having to make investigative hearings in the midst of a public health emergency. Morales said it is the second time that he has had to investigate his own administration, but that his commitment is that the truth be known.

Here you can review part of the view: