Enrile to PNP: Use rubber boats, helicopters for rescue

MANILA, Philippines - Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to use the police helicopters and rubber boats – which anomalous purchases are investigated by the Senate – in rescue operations in Central and Northern Luzon.

Many provinces in Central and Northern Luzon still reeling from the onslaught of typhoon “Pedring,” were affected by typhoon “Quiel.”

 “Gamitin, maski yung ginamit na baril sa krimen kung may sumalakay sa atin na mga dayuhan, gamitin mo para barilin mo yang mga kalaban ng bayan. Ewan ko ba. Commonsense lang yan eh (Even guns used in crime must be used in the event of foreign invasion to shoot the enemies of the state. I don’t know; it’s just commonsense),” Enrile said in an interview with radio dzBB.

PNP Director General Nicanor Bartolome has decided to keep the two Robinson Raven II helicopters and the rubber boats grounded while the questionable purchase of the vehicles is still investigated.

Enrile, who was defense minister under the Marcos regime, recalled using police powers of the state to obtain resources to respond to the onslaught of a strong typhoon.

“Nasa liderato ’yan e. Kung ako secretary ng DILG or DND, pati mga pribado, kukunin ko ’yan at gagamitin ko ’yan para sa emergency operations (It’s in the leadership. If I am the secretary of the DILG or DND, I will take even the private vehicles and use those for emergency operations),” he said, referring to the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of National Defense.

The PNP is rocked by a series of anomalous purchases of equipment, among those the procurement of three helicopters for P104.9 million that were passed off as brand new but turned out to be previously owned and five years old.

The rubber and patrol boats, purchased by the PNP at P131 million, were found defective despite the supposed repair of 28 V-150s boat engines worth P409 million, believed to be overpriced.

Bartolome has asked Congress to extend for another five years the Capability Enhancement Program (CEP) that has been provided an annual budget of P2 billion since 2008. The CEP is the counterpart of the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.