PNP asked to allot P24 M more for defective combat vehicles

MANILA, Philippines - After spending P409 million in the alleged ghost repairs of 28 V-150s, the Philippine National Police (PNP) was asked to allocate over P24 million more for the repair of the six of the 28 combat vehicles last year.

In a document obtained by The STAR, the PNP’s Special Action Force - Force Support Battalion (SAF-FSB) requested P24,755,442 for the repair and maintenance of the 28 armored personnel carriers (APCs) or V-150s, which were supposedly repaired in the latter part of 2009 and early 2010 for P409 million.

The document – dated June 30, 2010, the day President Aquino assumed office – stated that the amount would cover the repair and maintenance of the 28 V-150s for the whole year.

The document added that the repair and maintenance for each of the combat vehicles would cost P884,122.95.

“This unit (SAF-FSB) recommends that the problems encountered during functional test must be given appropriate actions,” the report stated.

In a memorandum dated April 21, 2010, The STAR gathered that when 27 police personnel conducted a test run of six V-150 commando vehicles and test-fired their crew service weapons, they noted at least 51 defects in the six combat vehicles.

The report stated that at around 8 a.m., the 27 police personnel attended a briefing for the functional test of V-150s namely Masigasig, Bigkis Lahi, Tagapamaya, Sambisig, Magilas 2, and Tagapaglunsad at the Logistics Support Service headquarters in Bicutan, Taguig.

At around 9:30 a.m., the group proceeded to Carmona, Cavite in a mini-bus and the six V-150s in a convoy. As the convoy traveled and reached Filinvest in Alabang at around 9:50 a.m., the engines of two APCs overheated, forcing the police personnel to contact the mechanics. The two V-150s were returned to Taguig.

About 10 minutes later or at 10 a.m., the convoy of four V-150s stopped at Carmona Interchange because the steering wheel of another V-150 failed to function well because of fluid leak. The APC was towed by another combat vehicle.

“Upon reaching the Carmona Interchange the V-150 being towed lost its brake and bumped the rear of the towing APC, causing damage,” the report stated.

At 10:05 a.m., or five minutes later, the report said another APC needed battery replacement. The test run and test fire were conducted at the test site but the crew serve weapon of the light armed unit malfunctioned.

At around 4:45 p.m., the group of policemen left the test site but about two kilometers away from the firing range, the V-150 with the leaking steering wheel lost its brakes.

At around 6:30 p.m., police personnel learned that another V-150 stopped in front of the gates of Camp Bagong Diwa due to a drained radiator.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo directed the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to conduct an investigation within 15 days to determine who will be charged before the Office of the Ombudsman.