Miriam questions role of Puno, aide in BAC

MANILA, Philippines – A senator questioned the role of resigned Interior and Local Government Secretary Rico Puno and his consultant in a police committee that reviewed bids for the purchase of firearms for the Philippine National Police.

Even if he served as undersecretary for police operations, Puno had no business in meetings conducted by a PNP bids and awards committee (BAC) to determine who would be granted contracts to supply pistols and firearms to the police, Sen Miriam Defensor-Santiago said.

One of the deals was eventually scuttled by President Benigno Aquino III, who found the firearms overpriced through his own Google search. Puno, the President’s longtime friend and shooting buddy, is a former gun-and-ammunition supplier.

Grilled by Santiago on Friday, September 14, during a Senate probe, Puno admitted that his consultant, Ramiro Lopez (better known as Myro Lopez), a gun enthusiast, also sat as an observer at the BAC. Puno said that as a consultant, Lopez does “research” for him.

Puno said he had assigned Lopez to represent him as an “observer” in the BAC. Puno said he himself was also an “observer” in the committee to represent the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo.

But Santiago, chair of the Senate committee that initiated the probe, noted that Robredo had his own representative in the BAC, a certain Angel Ojado, prompting her to ask Puno if had had written authority from Robredo.

Puno said he had none. He explained he merely told Robredo that he was going to sit as an “observer” in the BAC.

Yet, as observers, both Puno and Lopez were able to make their own recommendations when the BAC met to screen the bidders for the deal, according to Santiago. This was “irregular,” Santiago said.

Rappler tried to call up Lopez for his side but his phones were shut off.

Earlier, President Aquino defended the role of Puno in the BAC. The President said that he wanted the bidding for the firearms deals to be transparent thus the presence of Puno as a BAC observer.

Trip to Israel

Puno admitted to Santiago that he was in Israel in May this year, when police officials were there to check on guns that were being offered by an Israeli company IWI. Puno insisted that he was in Israel for a vacation with his family, and that it was merely a coincidence that the officials were there, too.

Puno said Lopez was with him in that “family vacation,” prompting an angry response from Santiago. “Yayo siya ng pamilya mo? (Is he your family’s babysitter?),” the lady senator asked. “One of his functions with me is to arrange some of my trips,” Puno explained.

Puno said Lopez can afford to join him on that trip. Lopez paid his own way, Puno said. Santiago expressed disbelief.

The Senate investigation was called following allegations that Puno was involved in anomalies related to the firearms purchase of the PNP. Santiago said she has no plans of continuing the investigation since her findings today were “sufficient.” Besides, she said, her fellow senators don’t listen to her anyway.

Santiago said she will study what she thinks the changes that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) should make.

Four Cabinet secretaries called to the hearing snubbed it. A letter to Santiago from the Office of the President said it found no legal basis for the probe. The Arroyo administration had also prevented Cabinet secretaries from testifying in Senate hearings on sensitive issues.

Puno quit as DILG undersecretary following the appointment of Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas to the DILG.

He has come under fire for attempting to enter the condominium unit of Robredo a day after the latter’s plane crashed in Masbate City. But the President said Puno was acting on his orders.

It’s common knowledge in Camp Crame that Puno and Robredo were constantly at odds over Puno’s control of the PNP. – Rappler.com