CIDG joins probe into overpriced choppers

MANILA, Philippines – The results of the investigation on the alleged overpriced helicopters from the Philippine National Police will be released on Friday, Philippine National Police Chief Raul Bacalzo said on Wednesday.

Bacalzo said the results to be released by the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management, which investigated the helicopters that were acquired in 2009, would be only based on the records they have.

“We are relying mainly on the records of the transaction from the bidding to the procurement to technical inspection to the acceptance and these things are being looked into by the investigation bodies that I tasked to investigate so whoever may be involved in those transactions, we investigated in accordance with their participation in the transaction,” Bacalzo said.

Bacalzo emphasized that they all have the records needed for the investigation.

“We have the records. The records are open. The records are complete and the records will not lie. We cannot hide them and we will not hide anything. We will make available the records about these things,” Bacalzo said.

“The investigation of the DIDM is two-pronged: It is both criminal and administrative and my instruction is this, you proceed on the criminal aspect  but we should also proceed on recommending to the PNP Chief and National Police Commission what measures can we institute from these investigation to improve the system, particularly procurement.”

He also said that all those that would be tagged in the results would be held liable and would be filed with proper criminal and administrative charges.