Robredo orders charges vs cops in procurement scam

MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo today said that he has ordered the filing of charges against at least four police officials for the questionable procurement of choppers, rubber boats and a patrol boat worth millions of government funds.

The three police officials identified by Robredo were Director George Piano, Senior Superintendent Loi Saligumba, Senior Superintendent Nolan Antonia and Superintendent Edgar Bataan.

Robredo said that instead of conducting fact-finding investigations first, he asked Philippine National Police chief Raul Bacalzo to immediately file cases against the police officials.

“It would be better to file charges [against them] first so [make sure] that they will explain,” the Interior chief said in a press conference.

The filing of the charges was in connection with the PNP’s procurement of overpriced helicopters during in 2009.

Robredo said that the PNP has also discovered questionable purchases of rubber boats and a patrol boat.

He said that Piano was the head of the PNP Acceptance Inspection Committee while the three other officials were members of the committee, which was involved in the procurement of the helicopters, the rubber boats and the patrol boat.

Robredo, meanwhile, clarified that the PNP had been investigating the dubious purchase of the helicopter even before Sen. Panfilo Lacson made it public.

Lacson had pressed for the investigation of the police procurement of P105-million worth of supposed brand new light helicopters that turned out to be secondhand aircraft.

The senator said the procurement was planned on May 8, 2009 and the deal awarded on July 9, 2009.

He said that then PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa approved the supply contract worth P104.985 million.

The PNP purchased one Robinson R44 Raven II and two Robinson R44 Raven I helicopters.

The rubber boats, according to Robredo, were bought by the PNP at P131 million while the patrol boat was bought at P90 million.

He said that the rubber boats, which were bought without bidding after the devastating storm “Ondoy” in 2009, and the patrol boat did not comply with the right specifications.

He said the rubber boats and the patrol boat remained unclaimed by its supposed user, the PNP-Maritime Group.

Ex-PNP chief accountable

Robredo said during the press conference Verzosa should be made to explain since all of the questionable police purchases happened during his time.

He said that as PNP chief, he was the approving authority for the purchases. The former PNP chief’s name was also indicated in all the vouchers, he added.

“I think so because this all leads [to Verzosa]. He signed all papers for the payments. It doesn’t follow that he erred in this matter, but at least he should explain,” Robredo said.

He said that if the new PNP leadership finds Verzosa guilty of the questionable purchases, the police organization should not think twice filing the appropriate case against its former head.

Meanwhile, Robredo said that the supplier of the helicopters, the Manila Aerospace Products Trading Corp. (MAPTRA), should also be charged.

He said it was MAPTRA who made it look like that the helicopters being purchased by the PNP were brand new.

Aside from the investigations on the police purchases, Robredo said that he has also told Bacalzo to overhaul the PNP’s procurement system to avoid future scams.

“I think there should be a massive procurement reform in the PNP,” he said.