UNA: ‘Squeaky–clean’ Trillanes too bought ‘dizzyingly overpriced’ multicabs

By: Frances Mangosing - 10 years ago

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The United Nationalist Alliance on Monday questioned Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s supposed anomalous purchases of multicabs funded by his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel from 2011 to 2013.

“Sabi ni Sen. Trillanes sa Senado, overpriced daw ang P200,000 na presyo ng multicab [sa Makati]. Eh, yung mga binili ni Trillanes mismo na multicab mula sa kanyang PDAF mas malulula ka sa presyo, at tumatagingting na P300,000 per unit. Ano yun fully-loaded?” said UNA interim secretary general JV Bautista in a statement.

“Grabe magmalinis itong si Sen. Trillanes… akala mo eh napakalinis at transparent kuno dahil naka-post PDAF nya sa website, at kunwari galit sa mga overpriced projects, samantalang swabe pala itong magpatong sa PDAF projects niya,” he added.

Trillanes did not go along with colleagues’ idea to give up their pork barrel. He instead proposed to re-align the fund for government programs such as scholarships and medical assistance. follow

Trillanes initiated the inquiry into the allegedly overpriced Makati Carpark Building 2 that was built during Binay’s term as mayor.

“Trillanes has been criticizing public officials for overpricing small-engine vehicles and deemed excessive multicabs that are priced at P200,000 per unit. But listings in his PDAF releases show his purchases of a fleet of multicabs, from 2011 to 2013, is at P300,000 each,” Bautista said.

He claimed that Trillanes’ multicabs are overpriced by almost P140,000 per unit as the sticker price for a 4X4 four-wheel drive, brand new multicab is at P160,000.

Trillanes’ multicabs are supposedly more expensive than a brand new 2014 Toyota Wigo sedan sold at P235,000.

‘Desperate move’

Meanwhile, Trillanes labeled the accusations of the Binay camp as “desperate move” in maligning his name.

“Mukhang kuryente na naman ang nilabas na balita ng UNA, tulad ng ginawa nila sa paglalabas ng di umano’y luxury cars na pag-aari ko,” he said in a statement.

“To set the record straight, I never funded overpriced projects, all the more, personally gained from the different projects I funded through my PDAF,” he also said.

He said that from 2011 to 2013, his office has granted several requests from the different municipalities in the country for fund allocation for multicabs which will be used as ambulance or patrol car. Amounts allocated for these requests were standardized based on the following reasons:

First, the amounts allocated for these multicabs are directly released to the requesting local government units, which conduct their own procurement based on the existing rules and regulations. My office has no involvement in the procurement of these multicabs.
Second, based on the canvass made by office, the market value of a multicab in good condition amounts to P170,000.00. This is further customized by the requesting local government unit depending on the purpose of its use, either as an ambulance or a patrol car. In addition to the cost for the custom design changes, part of our allocation includes costs for spare parts, operation and maintenance for one year of each multicab.
Third, the amounts allocated for my PDAF projects underwent the Commission on Audit’s review. Said agency did not find any anomalous transactions on the same.