PNP to cooperate in armored car repair probe

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) assured the public that the police would fully cooperate with the Ombudsman in the investigation on the alleged anomalous repair of the 28 police V-150 armored vehicles in 2007, which cost the government P409.74 million.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. said the PNP is open to any form of investigation that would benefit the police organization.

“The PNP is open and we will cooperate (in the investigation). The PNP will definitely gain from it,” Cerbo said.

Cerbo, however, said almost all police officials named in the Ombdusman’s investigation have retired and could no longer be held liable administratively.

He assured the public that the PNP has been observing very transparent and orderly processes in all bidding activities to enhance the capability of the police force.

He said transparency was one of the 10 priority agenda of PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome.

In a text to The STAR, former PNP chief Avelino Razon Jr. said that “there was no ghost repair. All the PNP V-150 armored vehicles were repaired by refurbishing the engines.”

The case stemmed from the alleged gross violation of procurement procedures in the awarding of the contract to repair and refurbish the armored vehicles used by the PNP Special Action Force and the Regional Mobile Group.

The contracts were awarded to Enviro-Aire Inc., RJP International Trading Construction and General Services and Evans Spare Parts Motorworks RPR and Trading.

Questions were raised on how the suppliers conducted repairs and where they obtained the spare parts, engines and transmissions of the V-150s that were developed in the 1960s.

There were also allegations that the winning bidders were paid in advance. The repair contract, which is more than 30 percent of the original acquisition cost, violated Commission on Audit rules, the complaint added.