MANILA, Philippines—Another former police chief and several retired officers are caught in yet another alleged irregularity in the police force’s procurement process which the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group will be looking into.
This time, the CIDG’s eyes will be focused on the anomalous repair and refurbishing of 28 American-made V-150 Light Armored Vehicles (LAV), said PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr.
Under scrutiny because of the transaction are former PNP chief Avelino Razon Jr., former Bids and Awards Committee chairman retired Deputy Director General Reynaldo Varilla, retired Police Director Charlemagne Alejandrino, retired Police Director Ray Roderos, retired Chief Superintendent Mario San Diego, retired Chief Superintendent Teodorico Lapuz, and former Inspection Committee chairman Superintendent Warlito Tubon.
Likewise, suppliers Enviro-Aire Inc., Evans Spare Parts Motorworks RPR and Trading, RJP International Trading Construction and General Services, Serpenair Group, Dex Lan Enterprises, and RKGK Enterprises are also being investigated and may face being blacklisted from the PNP if they are proved to be involved in the anomalous transaction. Enviro-Aire Inc. had also been implicated over the PNP’s anomalous purchase of rubber boats and outboard motors back in 2009.
The CIDG seeks to determine the liabilities of individuals and suppliers involved in the transaction under Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
The suppliers may be “recommended for blacklisting with the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) and forever banned from transacting business with the PNP,” Cruz explained.
The said transaction did not go through proper bidding process and violated Commission on Audit regulations as the units’ repair cost more than 30 percent of their original acquisition cost, said the PNP spokesperson. He added that there was no pre-bidding conference, the bidding documents were incomplete, and the bidding activity’s publication was “done in haste.”
The refurbishing and repairing of the said LAVs cost the PNP P409.74 million in 2007.
The said units were mostly used by the Special Action Force and the Regional Public Safety Battalion, Cruz revealed. He added that the suppliers had been paid seven months before they were delivered
Of the 28 LAVs, only 13 units were serviceable, said Cruz. He said that issues with the 15 units’ engines deemed them unserviceable. “Breakdowns and defects continue to be reported by end-users,” said the police spokesperson.
The PNP also sought a “higher-level inquiry into the wisdom or propriety behind the passage of a 2007 NAPOLCOM Resolution ordering the recall of all V-150 LAVs without any prior Technical Inspection Report (TIR) and assessment from the end-users.”
Cruz added that PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo has also shown the initial results of the investigation to President Benigno Aquino III. With Frances Mangosing and Danica Hermogenes