COA urges OMB to buy guns, gear for agents

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Audit (COA) has urged the Optical Media Board to buy guns and protective gear for its agents, who risk life and limb to combat criminal syndicates involved in optical media piracy.

In a report released over the weekend, state auditors said the problem of optical media piracy is now categorized as an organized, syndicated, transnational crime and the OMB had only two rifles and three handguns – and no bulletproof vests and helmets – as of Dec. 31, 2012.

The COA said statistics prove that OMB personnel need firearms and protective gear: 79 agents were injured in 695 out of 2,295 inspections in 2011, while 88 agents were wounded in 875 out of 2,915 operations in 2012.

“To augment the scarcity of the equipment at present, OMB agents were even using their personally-owned firearms the license of which was personally paid out of their personal funds. These agents also had to buy their own additional needs in operation like flashlights and such other gadgets they deemed necessary,” the COA said, adding that the police cannot protect the agents at all times.

The audit team learned that the insufficient number of government-issued firearms and protective gear in the OMB arsenal was attributed to lack of capital outlay released for the purpose.

The COA advised the OMB to include the procurement of guns and gear as a priority item in its proposed budget, and make a strong representation with the Department of Budget and Management (COA) during the agency’s congressional budget hearing. 

It also urged the OMB to seek the immediate approval of the COA, DBM and Department of Finance to use part of the income earned from proceeds of the sale of goods confiscated by the OMB for the purchase of guns.