PNP to probe more anomalies

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) created yesterday two fact-finding committees to look into the alleged anomalies in the repair of 13 armored personnel carriers for P300 million and the procurement of substandard bulletproof vests.

PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo tasked the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management to look into the matter, according to PNP deputy spokesman Senior Superintendent Noel Baraceros.

Quoting a report, Baraceros said the first committee will look into the repair of 30 old, rundown armored personnel carriers at P300 million. Only 13 units were repaired, and the rest were consigned to the dump.

Baraceros said another committee will investigate the purchase of substandard bullet-proof vests worth millions of pesos. The report indicated that the anomaly was first exposed by Chief Superintendent Leocadio Santiago, then chief of the elite PNP Special Action Force.

In his order, Bacalzo instructed the chair of the committees – Chief Superintendent Alex Monteagudo and Chief Superintendent Ricardo Marquez – to submit the comprehensive report on the issues not later than July 21.

The probe follows an earlier investigation involving the purchase of previously owned helicopters passed off as brand new and rubber boats and patrol boats made shortly after typhoon “Ondoy.”