PNP hit for buying patrol cars for P162 M

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. slammed the Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday for purchasing 203 patrol cars from a Pasay City car dealer at a cost of P162 million.

Reacting to reports that some civilian friends of top PNP officials got a fat commission for brokering the deal, Pimentel urged the PNP brass to unmask the officials and civilian individuals involved in the alleged anomaly.

"Expensive gifts are beyond the pale of the law," he said in a text message.

"If that is their defense, they had better forget it. It’s no defense at all. They’d go to jail for that," Pimentel said.

Apart from facing administrative charges, those found guilty of graft might also face jail sentence, he added.

Pimentel was reacting to reports that some PNP officials and their civilian advisers secured the deal with the Toyota branch along Diosdado Macapagal Blvd. in Pasay City in exchange for a fat commission.

Meanwhile, PNP chief Director General Arturo Lomibao assured the public yesterday that the purchase of P322 milion worth of handguns, motor vehicles and other equipment is aboveboard.

In a briefing for Pangasinan Rep. Amado Espino Jr., chairman of the House committee on public order and safety, Lomibao and other PNP officials presented a detailed report of the purchase.

Lumibao said the PNP "complied with the bidding laws and realized a clear advantage for government" in making the purchase.

The PNP brass invoked existing laws on "alternative methods" of procurement, citing the time constraints in security preparations for the 12th ASEAN Summit in Cebu City on December. — Christina Mendez, Cecille Suerte