Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes left yesterday for an eight-day visit to Malaysia and Singapore as the Office of the Ombudsman began its inquiry into alleged anomalies in the Armed Forces’ purchase of four aging C-130 cargo planes worth $41 million from Lockheed-Martin. The contract, which Reyes and Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Benjamin Defensor signed last Feb. 28, was alleged not to have gone through public bidding and lacked congressional appropriation in the 2001 budget.
The two chambers of Congress are also set to conduct inquiries into the purchase.
Reyes’ office said in a statement that he will visit Singapore upon the invitation of his counterpart, Dr. Tony Tan Keng Yam, who is also the deputy prime minister.
Reyes will hold discussions "aimed at promoting closer defense and disaster-response cooperation between the Philippines and Singapore," his office said.
The defense chief was originally scheduled to visit Sin—gapore last June but had to put it off due to domestic security concerns.
His talks with Yam are expected to revolve on defense ties and exchanges in support of the Armed Forces’ modernization program.
Reyes is also scheduled to visits key defense industries in Singapore.
From Singapore, Reyes will proceed to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to join President Arroyo during her state visit there on Aug. 7-9.
In Kuala Lumpur, Reyes is expected to meet Malaysian Defense Minister Dato Sri Mohd Najib who visited Manila last June 28.
Ombudsman Aniano Desierto said a four-man panel, headed by Norberto Mislang, was given 30 days to determine whether there are grounds to prosecute Reyes and Defensor for graft.
Although the contract is still under review by the National Economic Development Authority, Lockheed and its local partner, Asian Aerospace Corp., have moved equipment and personnel to Clark Field, Pampanga for the refurbishing of the C-130 cargo planes.
Reyes earlier defended the deal, saying the planes were equipped with electronic sensors that could detect intruders at sea or movements of vessels used in criminal activities, such as the speedboats of Abu Sayyaf bandits.
At present, the Air Force has two working C-130s, with at least six others grounded due to lack of spare parts.