Winner of P1.2-B PNP gun deal disqualified

Manila, Philippines – The Philippine National Police has disqualified the winner of a bidding to supply the PNP with P1.2 billion worth of handguns for allegedly failing to submit the documents required for the deal.

The PNP’s technical working group reported to PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome that the R. Espinelli’s joint venture with the Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) did not submit the certification from the Insurance Commission for the bid security and had violations on the appropriate receipt of authentication by the Philippine embassy, PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. in a briefing.

“So based on that disqualification of the lowest calculated bidder which is R. Espinelli, so we will now proceed to the second lowest,” Cerbo explained.

R. Espinelli’s joint venture with the IWI won the open bidding with the lowest offer of P16,254 for each Jericho 941PL gun.

The second lowest bid came from Trust Trade, which offered to supply 9mm Glock 17-Generation 4 guns at P16,659.76 each.

Cerbo said Trust Trade will undergo the same process as R. Espinelli.