Miriam believes Puno involved in anomalous PNP deals

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago said Monday that she is certain that Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Rico Puno is involved in anomalous deals in the Philippine National Police (PNP).

"There is reasonable ground to believe that he is involved or he is at least, if not necessarily involved, that he has knowledge and therefore consent of certain anomalous deals concerning the PNP. That is clear," Santiago said in an interview in ABS-CBN's morning news show.

Santiago made the statement as the Senate committee on constitutional amendments, revision of codes and laws, which she chairs, invited Puno to a congressional inquiry.

The senator said that Puno should be made to explain on allegations of his supposed involvement in anomalous deals in the PNP.

“If public funds are involved, he has no right to remain silent because of the constitutional right of the people on matters of public concern. There is a policy of transparency,” she said.

She added that Puno should also fully explain why he attempted to break in to the residence of the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, when President Aquino's only instruction was for him to secure the office of the late secretary.

There were reports that before Robredo was killed in a plane crash, he was investigating Puno and several police officials for their supposed involvement in the two procurements of assault rifles worth P171 million and P213 million.

The reports came after ABS-CBN News reported that Puno together with some police officers tried to raid the condo unit and offices of Robredo in search of some documents.

In the House of Representatives' budget hearing, Puno admitted that he sought exemption of an arms deal from public bidding for the purchase of nearly P400 million worth of rifles for the PNP.

Puno said that the PNP would next procure long firearms “with military specifications” after awarding a contract to a winning bidder for the supply of 59,000 Glock pistols costing more than P1 billion.

“We are asking for exemption from the procurement law (which requires public bidding) so we can do a negotiated contract (for the rifles),” he said.

Puno identified one potential supplier as Israeli Military Industries (IMI).

He said the short firearms supply deal went to the second lowest bidder “after the lowest bidder, which offered the Israeli pistol Jericho, was disqualified.”

“We expect the winning bidder to deliver the firearms in one year,” he said.

Puno's travel to Israel

Documents obtained by the television network show that Puno traveled to Israel upon the invitation of weapons manufacturer IMI.

According to the documents, Puno’s group left for Israel on May 10, the same date of the second pre-bid conference for the purchase of pistols.

Puno was accompanied by former PNP Special Action Force chief Leocadio Santiago, Reynaldo Espineli, owner of a defense and security company, and Puno’s consultant, Ramiro Lopez III.

Lopez is said to have accompanied Puno when the undersecretary went to Robredo’s office at the National Police Commission a day after the plane crash on Aug. 18.

The report cited a possible conflict of interest since Puno and Lopez were both members of the bids and awards committee.

Espineli and IMI won the bid for assault rifles out of seven bidders. Espineli also participated in the bidding for pistols.

The documents claim the specifications of the assault rifles seem to have been amended to favor a particular bidder.

Robredo initially sought a review of the price for the assault rifles.