Senate body urged to probe P105-M PNP purchase of light helicopters

MANILA, Philippines - The Senate Blue Ribbon committee is being urged to investigate alleged irregularities in the P105-million purchase of light helicopters for the Philippine National Police (PNP) as well as in the use of the Road User’s Tax during the Arroyo administration.

Senators Panfilo Lacson and Teofisto Guingona III made the appeal in separate resolutions filed recently.

The two senators said that the supplier of the helicopter, Manila Aerospace Products Trading Corp. (MAPTRA), made it appear – with the knowledge of the PNP – that the choppers delivered were new.

“By intentionally misrepresenting the helicopters they were selling as brand new and likewise, by intentionally accepting the same as such, both MAPTRA and the PNP may have entered into an anomalous contract which not only gave unwarranted benefits or advantage to a party but also one which is manifestly and grossly disadvantageous to the government in violation of Section 3 (E) and (G) of Republic Act 3019, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,” they said.

Lacson said the plan was for the purchase of three light helicopters for the PNP-Special Action Force’s Air Unit.

On May 8, 2009, the PNP Negotiation Committee started talks with MAPTRA for one equipped LPOH and two standard LPOHs for P105 million. Lacson said the initial arrangement was inconsistent with the PNP-SAF’s requirement of three equipped light police operational helicopter or LPOH.

On July 9, 2009, the PNP Negotiation Committee recommended the award of the contract to MAPTRA, which it described as a “legally, technically and financially capable” supplier.

Lacson noted that then PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa approved the supply contract for P104.985 million.

Acquired by the PNP were one Robinson R44 Raven II and two Robinson R44 Raven I helicopters.

“But contrary to the findings of the Negotiation Committee that MAPTRA has been engaged in the business for so many years, the Securities and Exchange Commission records state that MAPTRA was only given its certificate of incorporation on June 10, 2009,” the two senators noted.

They added that the two R44 Raven I choppers were “pre-owned” as far back as March 2004, as shown in flight logs.

“There is an urgent need to look into this anomaly in order to prevent the PNP from entering into another contract of similar nature and to determine possible violations of RA 3019,” they said.

The two senators also called for a probe on the alleged misuse of P8.547 million Road User’s Tax by the Arroyo administration.

Specifically, they cited the use of the fund to finance the Out of School Youth Serving Towards Economic Recovery (OYSTER) program of the previous administration.

“These releases appear to be in violation of Republic Act 3019, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act because all monies collected under RA 8794 (the law imposing the Motor Vehicle User’s Charge) should have been earmarked solely and used exclusively for the maintenance and improvement of road drainage, installation of adequate and efficient traffic lights and road safety and air pollution control and not to address underemployment or drug problems of the youth,” the resolution read.

They also cited a Commission on Audit (COA) report which stated that the liquidation documents submitted by the PNP and the DPWH for the OYSTER program might be “defective.”

The COA report also indicated that the signatures appearing on the payroll and daily time records have the same strokes and “appear to have been made by one and the same person.”