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BOHOL, Philippines – Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Nicanor Bartolome said the agency follows proper and transparent procurement process, including the one for the allegedly anomalous purchase of pistols that involves several ranking police officials and Interior Undersecretary Rico Puno.
“We are very transparent. In fact, PNP is not the only one involved in the bidding. There are observers from the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government), Napolcom (National Police Commission) and from the media,” Bartolome said during his visit in Bohol over the weekend.
Bartolome was responding to questions regarding the investigation on the arms deal, which Puno’s former boss, the late DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, has initiated.
On Sunday, September 9, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said Robredo’s investigation focused on the transaction process and not on Puno.
President Aquino has said he has instructed Puno to “secure” sensitive documents at the offices of Robredo. However, Puno, who, together with other DILG officials, went not only to Robredo’s 3 offices but also tried to enter Robredo’s Manila residence a day after the Cabinet official’s plane crashed off Masbate on August 18.
Bartolome, who will retire in 2013, is being eyed by President Aquino to take over Puno’s post at the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) amid questions on Puno’s visit at Robredo’s residence.
Robredo reportedly received a copy of the investigation report 10 days before the plane crash.
Transparent
The report supposedly said that 4 people — Puno, former Special Action Force Chief Leocadio Santiago, Puno’s consultant Ramiro Lopez III, and a certain Reynaldo Espineli of the company R. Espineli — were involved in the shelved bidding for P400 million-worth purchase.
Robredo allegedly expressed apprehension over the bidding because of the exorbitant prices of the arms. Robredo ordered for an investigation on two contracts worth P178 million and P213 million in the purchase of rifles. The bidding was suspended pending the result of the investigation.
Bartolome said he had no idea that Robredo has initiated an investigation on the allegedly anomalous arms deal.
“I have not heard of any investigation yet that involves Usec. Puno,” Bartolome said during his visit in Bohol over the weekend. He said reports that they have received on the issue only came from the media.
Nonetheless, he said the PNP has realized savings of around P200 million in filling the 100 handgun requirement.
The PNP managed to bring down the prices of each Jericho 941 PL pistols from the original prize of P40,000 to only P16, 000. The savings purchased an additional 14,000 pistols, Bartolome said.
“Just look at the savings and you’ll know there is nothing with the system. It followed the proper process,” Bartolome said.
Bartolome was in Bohol to preside the second Visayas Command Conference with different regional chief in the area. – Ryan Christopher J. Sorote
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