President Aquino’s vow: No more used gear for cops under my watch

In an apparent dig at former First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, President Benigno Aquino III on Monday said the country’s police force would never again settle for secondhand equipment under his watch.

The President made the assurance shortly before Arroyo arrived in Manila from Hong Kong where his camp said he underwent tests for a heart ailment. Arroyo announced he was ready to face allegations that he owned the two helicopters that were sold as brand new to the Philippine National Police in 2009.

In a speech marking the PNP’s 110th anniversary at Camp Crame, Mr. Aquino said his administration, through the Department of Budget and Management, had taken steps to modernize the police force through the acquisition of new equipment and training.

“I just want to make it clear that when I say we will buy brand new equipment, these are not items that have been used and abused by some King Herod,” he said in Filipino, drawing snickers from the audience that included former President Fidel V. Ramos.

Mr. Aquino said benefits and services meant for the PNP should be fully enjoyed by its members, “not by any family who acts like kings and has a wangwang mentality.” Since his first day in office, the President has used the wangwang (emergency siren) in speeches as a metaphor for abuse of power.

The President also warned the bad eggs in the force. “If you are a policeman who has no concern for the interest of the people, it’s better for you to just give up your badge,” he said.

He said his administration would keep on investigating anomalies in the PNP to make sure its budget would go to the intended projects and programs.

His “ambition,” he said, would be to leave behind a police force that had truly earned the people’s respect by the time his presidency ends in 2016.

On the sidelines of the PNP anniversary rites, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said the PNP would buy more helicopters despite the recently uncovered anomaly wherein the agency paid P105 million for three aircraft, two of which turned out to be units allegedly preowned by Arroyo.

The two controversial units bought in 2009, he said, were supposed to be used in the south but ended up being kept in Manila since these “did not fit the needs” of the PNP for its Mindanao operations.

“What happened before won’t happen again,” he stressed.

Probe of helicopters

The Senate had grilled PNP officials involved in the awarding of the contract for the helicopter purchase.

A PNP fact-finding committee had concluded that the purchase of the two Robinson R-44 Raven I helicopters was anomalous.

PNP Director General Raul Bacalzo said criminal charges against officers found liable for the anomaly would be filed by the time he retires next month.

“We do not want to preempt the investigation being conducted by the Senate, but definitely after the Senate hearing the CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) comes up with the results of the investigation,” Bacalzo told reporters on Monday.

“For sure, before I retire, the investigation of the chopper case will be finished,” the PNP chief said.