SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE Jan. 20 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The previous adviser of the Audit Office of the Canary Islands and current Emergency Director for the Government of the Canary Islands, Fernando Figuereo, has endorsed the technical credibility of the draft report on health procurement during the pandemic, which was ultimately not approved by the institution’s plenary session—although a nearly identical version has been ratified during this legislative period.
During an appearance before the investigative committee, where the Socialist Group accused him of stating that the project “lacked technical robustness,” he reiterated that he has “never” experienced any pressure and, regardless, he would not have tolerated it, although he acknowledged that his actions had caused “discomfort,” as noted by “third parties.”
The draft report spans from March to December 2020 and examines a total of 106 contracts, representing 62% of the total value. It confirms contracts for medical supplies amounting to 81.9 million, with over 61% allocated to four companies: ACJ (17.9 million); Damco (14 million); Business Management and Support Solutions (9.7 million); and Injoo Technology (8.9 million).
Additionally, the contract list includes RR7 United, the firm associated with the ‘mask scandal’, involving payments of four million euros in two instalments for one million masks that were later destroyed due to being counterfeit. According to the Audit Office, this case shows indications of financial accountability issues.
However, Figuereo clarified that “there is no existing report,” as it was not approved at the time by the Plenary Court, but he expressed his “satisfaction” that it has now been approved in this legislative session. “I stand by the conclusions,” he affirmed.
CONCURRENCE SHOULD HAVE BEEN UTILIZED
Nevertheless, he mentioned, as a “personal view,” that despite the numerous emergency situations confronted during the pandemic, “the concurrence” of companies should have been employed, although he concurrently acknowledges that “the urgency compelled us to act in ways that would not have been considered otherwise.”
He also stated that the requirement to contract “does not absolve the need to ascertain the company’s capability” to engage with the Canarian administration, a verification process that could have been completed in “a couple of hours.”
Figuereo, who has asserted his “independence” despite being appointed at the request of the PP, relied on the confidentiality of plenary discussions to avoid analysing the reasons behind the negative vote for approval. Nonetheless, he maintained that there were “legal reports” and that he would not “counteract the professionals of the institution,” stressing how “unfortunate” it was that approval did not occur earlier in this legislative term.
“I do not alter my stance when I know I am engaging in an illegal act; if proven so, and the experts, the legal adviser inform me accordingly, I uphold the content. Thus is the Plenary, it was not approved; no harm done, many reports are generated, and that case simply wasn’t endorsed,” he asserted.
In this respect, he emphasised that the content “is substantiated” and indeed the Plenary decided to forward the report to the Court of Auditors, resulting in proceedings that were subsequently shelved as the Government of the Canary Islands initiated the process to recover the funds. “Had I not observed anything untoward, I would not have initiated proceedings,” he highlighted.
