Duterte removes PNP’s procurement power over ‘overpriced’ speed guns

MANILA, Philippines—President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the removal of the procurement power of the police as he rails against “overpriced” speed guns procured by the Philippine National Police (PNP) which he said costs P950,000 per unit.

In a speech before the Philippine Marine Corps at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City Monday night, Duterte said that speed guns costs Davao City just P10,000 per unit, way cheaper from the almost a million peso procured by the PNP.

The President bared that he called Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to order his office to do the procurement for the police force and strip the PNP off its procurement power.

“Remove the power of the PNP to procure equipment. Kasi ‘yung [Because the] speed gun sa [in] Davao costs us about P10,000,” Duterte said.

“P950 (thousand) per unit is simply abominable…Sabi ko kay Gen. Año his office will do the procurement and I expect no corruption,” he added.

Duterte then warned other government agencies to stop messing with public funds as he threatened to establish a bureau of supply like what the Marcos government had.

“This is a warning sa lahat ng mga opisina (to all government offices). You keep on fucking on the people’s money (and) I will remove your procurement power,” Duterte said.