SENATOR Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada asked the Commission on Audit to investigate the alleged favored suppliers of the Department of Education.

In a letter addressed to COA Chairman Jose Calida dated October 3, Estrada requested for a special audit on DepEd’s suppliers.

“This is to request your good office for an audit inspection on the reported ‘favored suppliers’ in the Department of Education, including but not limited, to the following companies: Advance Solutions Inc., Columbia Technologies, Inc., Reddot Imaging Philippines, Inc., Techguru Inc. and Girltekki Inc.,” the senator said in the letter.

The mentioned companies regularly supply the agency’s laptop and information technology needs, he said.

Estrada pointed out that ASI bagged almost P6 billion in government deals.

However, DepEd Director Abram Abanil said that they chose the mentioned firms because they offered the lowest bids.