PNP to gun dealers: Winner not always one with lowest price

MANILA, Philippines - After several controversies involving alleged rigged biddings, Philippine National Police (PNP) officials told firearms dealers they upgraded post-qualification standards for firms seeking to join biddings for all police equipment, particularly for firearms. 

“As a requirement, the winning pistol must survive a rigorous endurance and torture test of 20,000 rounds before it can become the official pistol of the PNP,” Deputy Director General Benjamin Belarmino said in a statement Wednesday. “The lowest price doesn’t automatically make you winner. The pistol must be good enough to meet our standards.”

Belarmino, PNP deputy chief for administration, chairs the bids and awards committee.

President Aquino earlier ordered the PNP to provide uniform firearms to policemen to ensure interoperability during operations, allowing one policeman to use his colleagues’ spare bullets or magazines.

Just recently, as part of its modernization and capability enhancement program, the PNP held an official bidding for 12,500 .9mm caliber pistols to fill the 40-percent deficit in the number of firearms for its uniformed personnel.

Belarmino said the PNP, pursuant to the amended specifications of the National Police Commission, now requires all their pistols to have polymer receivers, steel sights, internal and external safety features and have a minimum of 15 rounds’ magazine capacity.

Belarmino said a total of five firearm firms participated in the public bidding. Arms Corporation of the Philippines, representing Fratelli Tanfoglio of Italy, submitted the lowest calculated bid of P16,968 per unit for the Tanfoglio Force 99 pistol.

He added that Armaments Unlimited Inc. entered the Beretta PX4 Storm, which came in second place at P18,200; Trust Trade submitted a bid proposal of P18,900 per Glock 17 pistol; Israeli Weapons Industries and local partner Espinelli Trading came in with the highest bid of P22,680 for the Jericho 941 pistol. One firm was disqualified over incomplete papers.