The order consists of 5.4 million masks without a visor and 4 million gloves, for $ 4.4 million. Part of the merchandise was already delivered on April 21 and 23 at the warehouses of the National Civil Protection System, according to a note signed on March 25 by the then vice-minister of the Presidency, Juan Carlos Muñoz, and validated by documentation from the attorney of the supplying company.

The Press consulted the regulations and suppliers of supplies and confirmed that for medical products - which includes masks and gloves - the company must be registered as a supplier of the Ministry of Health (Minsa). This is a requirement for the validation process of the product technical data. This process was not required from Security Equipments Inc.

This company has previously sold equipment related to security matters, such as ballistic vests, weapons and food, to the State, but nothing that has to do with medical supplies, according to the Panama Compra registry.

The Press asked the Ministry of Health how the quality of the product offered in this purchase will be validated and why they are allowing the Ministry of the Presidency to carry out the purchases without complying with the requirements. As of yet Minsa has not provided any answer.

"It was a great mistake to allow the President's office or any other agency to purchase these products. They dont have the experience in acquiring these products, which are not pencils or pens, but have to meet basic safety requirements", said Nuria de Domínguez, from the Panamanian Association for the Distribution of Medical Products.

In her opinion, the State should have opened a contest requesting as requisites the suppliers' certificate and the operating license, to ensure that the quality of the product was validated and that the quotation was in line with the market price.

"If they are companies with a bidder's license and certificate, they are reliable and not the ones that are looking for an opportunity in the market," she added, and in the case of masks there are all kinds.

The Press tried to contact Vice President José Gabriel Carrizo; Messages were left on his cell phone with questions, as well as the Vice Minister of the Presidency, Carlos García Molino, but they did not reply.

An attempt was made to contact the company's shareholder, Carlos Emilio Boyd, but his cell phone was turned off. His lawyer, Gilberto Cruz, replied by text messaging: "There is a parameter under which the Minsa already has the characteristics of the same that have been previously certified ."

“As this had to be dealt an urgent matter, the Ministry of the Presidency decided to deal with who ever had the products in stock, but possibly did not have the technical criteria. They sent the technical criteria to the Minsa and that the Minsa give the go-ahead to be able to start deliveries, "said Cruz.