Special body to probe ‘overpriced’ second-hand rubber boats, engines purchase-PNP chief Bacalzo
MANILA, Philippines – Philippine National Police chief Director General Raul Bacalzo announced the creation on Wednesday of a ‘special committee’ to probe the purchase of 75 units of rubber boats, and 93 outboard motor engines last March.
Bacalzo said that he requested a copy of the PNP Maritime Group’s report on the rubber boats and outboard motor engines. He said he had tasked Lani-O Nerez, Director for Research and Development, to lead the said ‘special committee’.
“This is an open (case),” Bacalzo said, adding that it was “not really a secret matter” as there was a report from PNP Maritime Group director Chief Superintendent Francisco Montenegro about the case as early as late last year. He revealed that he took note of that particular report in October , 2010, and ordered the Directorate for Logistics to look into the case.
The PNP chief said that he created the ‘special committee’ after several inspections into the procurement of the said equipment. He said that the investigation was ‘tedious’ as they had to “inspect the items one by one.”
He confirmed that the engines were not compatible, but clarified that they were not defective since “the boats delivered by the dealers were only capable of handling 40 horsepower engines.” Enviro-Aire, the dealer awarded with the contract to deliver the engines, brought 60 horsepower engines to the police force, instead.
Bacalzo said that he had also endorsed the special committee’s report “so they can identify and file the case” if necessary.
Robredo told reporters in a press conference yesterday on Tuesday that the 75 rubber boats and 93 outboard motor engines worth P131.5 million, were “most likely overpriced and unusable.”
