'Blacklisted' firm wins anti-terror gear deal

MANILA, Philippines - Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday to explain why a supplier he had ordered blacklisted won in the recent bidding for police anti-terror equipment.

Robredo said he ordered the blacklisting of Enviro-Aire and other suppliers involved in the delivery of P131 million worth of allegedly defective patrol rubber boats and outboard motors on May 24, 2011.

“With its participation in the subject bidding, it is apparent that the Enviro-Aire Inc. was not blacklisted by the PNP,” said Robredo, who added that the reports of the PNP Maritime Group and the PNP Directorate for Research and Development (DRD) on the deal were not given due course.

The DILG chief instructed the PNP to submit to him a report of actions taken on the matter, particularly explaining why the PNP did not blacklist Enviro-Aire and the other suppliers involved.

In a June 18 memorandum to PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome, Robredo said Enviro-Aire Inc. was the lone bidder and was declared the lowest calculated bidder in the procurement of the hand and body protector with an approved budget for the contract of P12.2 million.

Also yesterday, officers of the DRD conducted a functional test and evaluation of anti-riot helmet delivered by Enviro-Aire at the quadrangle of the Camp Crame in Quezon City. The helmet will be distributed to Civil Disturbance Management personnel.

Senior Inspector Emerson Cubillan, chief of the DRD-Equipment Section, said three of the 1,000 anti-riot helmets supplied by the Enviro-Aire passed the initial visual, dimensional and functional tests of the product.

Cubillan said the next step would be the material test to be conducted by the Philippine Institute of Pure and Applied Chemistry and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Senior Superintendent Alexander Pumecha of the DRD said the test on the helmets will determine if the products conform with the specification given by the National Police Commission.

Robredo reiterated his directive to the PNP to start the process of blacklisting the suppliers of the patrol rubber boats and outboard motors, which was recommended by the PNP-DRD.

Suppliers Harold Ong of Enviro-Aire, Sene Arabaca of Geneve SA Philippines, and Alex Tayao of Bay Industrial Philippines have been charged with graft and violating the government procurement law before the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the procurement of reportedly defective, incompatible boats and motors in 2010.

Former PNP chief Jesus Verzosa, three other retired police officers, 12 active police officials who are members of the PNP’s bids and awards committee and two non-uniformed personnel were also charged.