PNP to go after groups behind bid to derail firearms procurement

MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine National Police said Wednesday that it is now gathering evidence to possibly identify the groups who are trying to derail the procurement of police service firearms.

In a press briefing, Deputy Director General Emelito Sarmiento, deputy chief for operations and Bids and Awards Committee chairman, said this talk about alleged anomalies in PNP’s  procurement process may have been raised by losing bidders who wanted to have another chance in winning the contract.

“Perhaps they came from losing bidders . . .  they could not accept the decision of the BAC so now they are resorting to media,” Sarmiento said, adding there are remedies available for groups who are not satisfied with BAC’s decision, but none filed a protest.

Sarmiento said he saw in a newspaper article that one of the losing bidders fed the information against the BAC. He said they have no enough evidence yet to nail the losing bidder.

Once proven, Sarmiento said the BAC may suspend or blacklist the company for “trying to influence the decision of the BAC.”

He said the committee may seek legal actions.

Nonetheless, the process for PNP’s procurement of 59,904 9mm pistols continue, and is now at the final phases of closing the deal.

The BAC chief said the PNP’s directorate for logistics have already signed a contract with Trust Trade/Glock Asia for the procurement last Monday, and is now subject for approval or disapproval from the PNP chief, Director General Nicanor Bartolome.

Bartolome has 15 days to make his final decision. If the deal is approved, a notice to proceed will be released for the scheduling of shipments.

The first batch of pistols consisting of 12,000 units will be delivered 150 days upon the issuance of the notice, and will be completed after 570 days, or roughly 1 year and 7 months.

“We have been telling our people that this is the right time that at least one short firearm [will be provided] for [each member of the force]. . . I don’t know why there are some quarters who are trying to derail this project. We feel so sorry for the people expecting good service from us…,” Sarmiento said.

The intention, he said, is more business-related.

Agham Party-list Representative Angelo Palmones earlier alleged that 28,000 Glock 17, Generation 4 caliber 9mm pistols from winning bidder Trust Trade and partner Glock Asia Pacific Ltd. arrived in the Manila South Harbor on September 4, prior to the contract signing for the P1-billion firearms deal.