Army to open books to Senate probe on missing supplies

MANILA, Philippines - Army commander Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año ordered yesterday concerned offices to open their books to provide the Senate committee investigating the undelivered military supplies with the needed data.

The Army has complied with all the requirements of the procurement law, spokesman Col. Benjamin Hao said in a statement.

“After complying with the procurement process, the Philippine Army is now awaiting the delivery of the ammunition,” he   said.

The Army is willing to cooperate with other government agencies in the conduct of an investigation, Hao said.

“The Philippine Army welcomes any investigation on the Commission on Audit (COA) findings regarding the undelivered ammunition and combat clothing and individual equipment.” 

On Monday, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago asked the Army to explain why the bulk of the training ammunition and equipment it was supposed to acquire last year had not been delivered as reported by the COA.

She filed a resolution calling for a Senate investigation on the non-delivery of the military supplies.

A recent COA report showed that only P42.4 million worth of ammunition were delivered in 2014 even if the Army released P569.6 million to the Government Arsenal, Santiago said.

Of the P231.9 million worth of combat clothing and equipment the Army requested through the budget department’s Procurement Service from 2004 to 2011, P786,000 remain undelivered as of last year, the report showed.

Based on latest records, the less than one percent undelivered combat clothing and individual equipment would soon be turned over to the 9th Infantry Division in Camarines Sur, Hao said.

Government procedures require the Army to buy small arms ammunition from the Government Arsenal, he added.