PNP maintains: P1.2-B pistol deal ‘transparent’

MANILA -- Amid the graft charges filed against several of its top officials, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reiterated that there were no irregularities in the recently-signed P1.2-billion pistol deal.

Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr., PNP spokesman, assured that the entire procurement process is consistent with government regulations and denied the allegations of two losing bidders who filed a complaint at the Office of the Ombudsman.

“As far as the PNP is concerned this particular contract is most thoroughly transparent and most advantageous for the government such that and unprecedented savings of P200-million was generated from this particular transaction,” Cerbo said.

On Monday, losing bidders Roferma Enterprises and Kolonwel Trading represented by their respective presidents Romulo Maningding and Peter Go Cheng filed several counts of grave misconduct in relation to Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against PNP chief Nicanor Bartolome, Deputy Director General Emelito Sarmiento, and Logistics Director Arnulfo Perez.

Sarmiento and Perez are also the chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the PNP Bids and Awards Committee (BAC).

Twelve other police officers, mostly BAC members, were also accused.

According to the complaint, the accused PNP officials allegedly abused their authority when each interested bidders were required to buy the bidding documents at P275,000 so that their cost of production would be recovered.

The said excessive amount discouraged most suppliers from participating and reduced the open and competitive nature of the bidding process.

Nevertheless, seven suppliers purchased the bidding documents but then the BAC allegedly altered the bid rules by requiring the contractors to provide extra ammunition for each pistol.

The joint venture of R. Espenile and Israel Weapons Industries was earlier declared as the lowest and winning bidder but was later disqualified by the BAC for lack of certain documents.

The deal was eventually awarded to the joint venture of Trust Trade Philippines and Glock Asia Pacific Ltd., the second lowest bidder.

The PNP still welcomed the complaint, saying the court is the proper venue to end the issue.

“We view this as an opportunity to clarify everything and close this chapter once and for all,” said Cerbo.

The P1.198-billion pistol deal, which was signed by Bartolome on September 20, will provide 59,904 units of 9mm Glock 17 Generation 4 pistols to the police force.

The purchase is seen to fill up the needed short firearms of policemen and would replace their old revolvers.

The delivery period for the service pistols is expected to be completed within 570 days. The first 12,000 units would be delivered sometime in February 2013. (Emmanuel Louis Bacani/Sunnex)