PNP chief: I stood my ground vs car suppliers

Ronald dela Rosa, posing for photographers early this month in front of the New Bilibid Prison, says he told suppliers that even if they had a fistfight all day, he would not give in to lobbying. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

DAVAO CITY — Philippine National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said he had stood his ground against some vehicle suppliers who tried to force him into purchasing brands that were not specified by the PNP bids and awards committee (BAC).

“I told them that even if we engaged in a fistfight the entire day, I would not give in to what they were asking me. I would give the PNP the best, what was stipulated in the list of specifications,” he added. “So they shut up.”

Dela Rosa shared his experience with the vehicle suppliers, whom he refused to identify, during ceremonies on Monday where he distributed 23 Toyota Hilux 4×4 pickups equipped with winches and other vehicles for the Southern Mindanao
police.

He described the suppliers’ lobbying as “close to intimidation.”

‘The best’

“When we started the bidding process for the vehicles, they went to the Department of Budget and Management and they were forcing the brands they carried because they had allegedly been proven already by the government,” Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa said he consulted PNP Deputy Director General Archie Gamboa, who had served as Davao City deputy police
director.

“We should stand up for our men,” Dela Rosa quoted Gamboa as telling him.

“I want the best for the PNP. I do not want to always hear complaints afterwards (so we bought the best),” the PNP chief said.

Dela Rosa also said the PNP was now awash with cash to spend on equipment, crediting President Duterte with giving the police the surplus funds.

He said the President asked him what else the PNP needed.
“I said we don’t need anything anymore, but he told me there is P2 billion available,” Dela Rosa said. “Use it,” he said Mr. Duterte told him.

He said the PNP bids and awards committee “is overwhelmed because we have more money now than before.”

Despite the available funds, he said he was making sure the BAC was careful in purchasing equipment and other supplies.

He said he was confident there would be no corruption involving purchases and the handling of PNP funds.

Lessons

“A lot of officials had already been jailed because of corruption. I told them to be extra careful so that we would not commit mistakes,” he said.

Dela Rosa also announced the purchase of helicopters for all PNP regional offices.
A P400-million twin-engine helicopter from the United States was on its way to the PNP, he said.

“We envision that before the President steps down, we can give one helicopter to each regional office,” he said.