Anti-graft movement hits filing of criminal case vs Army chief

AN anti-graft movement denounced the case filed against a military official for shelving contracts for the purchase of ammunition.

Ka Leon Estrella Peralta, Chairman and Founder of the Anti-Trapo Movement of the Philippines (ATM), Inc., in a statement on Monday, said Army chief Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri’s action can be classified as “being cautious to protect the institution, our soldiers and the public’s interests.”

Iriberri was slapped with a criminal complaint before the Ombudsman for his alleged failure to issue necessary documents for the delivery of ammunition covered by three procurement projects worth P97.7 million. This failure resulted in the shelving of contracts that Joavi Philippines won.

Joavi is among the complainant who filed the case against Iriberri.

Peralta said Joavi Philippines’ subsidiary, Stone of David Tactical Equipment Corp., partnered with Serbia-based firm UM-Merkata to supply armored vests for the use of soldiers fighting Moro National Liberation Front members during the Zamboanga City siege in September 2013.

The suppliers failed to deliver, forcing the AFP to hold an emergency purchase of 1,000 armored vests through the Philippine International Corp.

UM-Merkata was later blacklisted, Peralta said.

Peralta said its other partner, Talon Security Consulting & Trade Ltd., is on Amnesty International’s watchlist for its alleged involvement in the illegal arms trade to terrorists in the Middle East and has been found by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation to have delivered substandard weapons on two occasions in 2008.

Peralta added that even before Iriberri assumed his post in February 2014, a supply contract for 2000 rounds of 81mm ammunition with a total contract price of PhP19.5 million by the Joint Venture partnership of JOAVI Philippines and Talon has also been recommended for termination due to non-delivery of this ammunition despite several extensions given to them and after paying P7 million as liquidated damages for the late delivery of 100 units of 81mm Mortar Tubes.