DND forms new bidding panel for attack helicopters

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of National Defense (DND) has formed a new bids and awards committee for the purchase of night-capable attack helicopters for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), following the scrapping of earlier bidding reportedly due to some irregularities.

A source said Defense Undersecretary Roberto Emmanuel Feliciano would head the new committee.

Other members of the committee are lawyer Norman Daanoy, vice chairman, and director Ramon Martinez and Brig. Gen. Evans Opina, regular members. The chairmen of the AFP modernization boards would serve as provisional members.

Undersecretary Ariston de los Reyes, who led the probe on the bidding, would be an observer in the new process.

He would be joined by Assistant Secretary Lamberto Sillona, a second or third level representative from the Department of Finance, one representative each from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Bishops-Businessmen’s Conference, Transparency International and the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption.

They are expected to be introduced to the media next week by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro.

They replaced Undersecretary Roberto Nuqui, directors Edna Guevarra and Gladys Cagado, Brig. Gen. Gerry Jalandoni, AFP vice chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Romero and Maj. Gen. Pedro Ike Insierto, who served as provisional members.

The DND scrapped earlier bidding for six night-capable helicopters worth P1.2 billion after an investigating panel found that the helicopters offered by the Asian Aerospace Corp. did not meet the technical specifications of the Air Force, which would use the aircraft.

De los Reyes, who led the investigation, said in an earlier interview that the MD530F helicopter being offered by Asian Aerospace Corp., the only company that pre-qualified in the bidding process, did not meet the 3,000 lbs. payload required by the PAF.

Aside from alterations on the technical specifications, De los Reyes said they discovered that the same company offered 12 MD350F helicopters to the government for about the same price it quoted for six units.

De los Reyes said that while technically, there was no overpricing for the helicopters because the bid of Asian Aerospace was within the approved budget, it was excessive and disadvantageous to the DND and the AFP.

He ordered the investigating panel to determine if charges could be filed against concerned officials, officers or personnel of the DND or the Armed Forces of the Philippines with the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission, the Office of the Ombudsman or other appropriate body or tribunal.

The procurement of the helicopters is part of the AFP’s Capability Upgrade Program, a comprehensive five-year modernization project aimed at improving the equipment of the military until 2010.        – James Mananghaya