Brad Pitt’s car an Army favorite

Not all Army vehicles are trucks and tanks — some of them are high-end cars whose image models come straight off the silver screen.

The Army leadership reportedly bought at least P20 million worth of high-end vehicles for the use of key officers and their staff assigned to PA headquarters at Fort Bonifacio in Makati City, The STAR learned yesterday.

Sources within the Army said 15 Toyota Altis sedans — the car model that boasts of Brad Pitt as its image model — worth over P800,000 each and 10 Grandia vans worth over P1 million each were purchased for members of the general staff officers two weeks after Lt. Gen. Dionisio Santiago assumed his post as Army commanding general last April 2.

"It was some sort of a package deal, one Altis and one (van) for each G-staff member. The Army headquarters is now like a Toyota showroom," an Army official quipped.

While the Army brass are willing to spend for posh transport, there are still other pressing expenses that seem to have escaped their notice, the source said: "There are dilapidated barracks and decrepit equipment that need (replacement and repair)."

The procurement, the source added, was reportedly done without the public bidding process required by law for such purchases.

A cursory inspection of the parking compound at Army headquarters showed at least six brand-new Toyota Altis sedans with private plates parked in slots assigned to members of the G-staff. However, there were no Grandia vans in sight.

Santiago admitted that there are Altis sedans designated for use of Army headquarters officers, but no Grandia vans. He added that none of the vehicles were purchased, but were obtained on a lease-to-own arrangement with a Toyota dealership: "We do not have capital outlay. We are not allowed to make such kinds of purchases. What we’re doing will be much more cost-effective in the long-run and will help prevent unauthorized use of staff vehicles."

Santiago said the Army, as with any other military unit, is allocated a budget for vehicle rentals for various occasions and purposes — a budget that is often used up because of the frequent need for vehicles and the high cost of car rentals.

Instead of spending the allotted budget on vehicle rentals, the Army opted to enter into a lease-to-own arrangement that will enable the Army to acquire the vehicles once the lease contract terms are all met.

Santiago said this lease-to-own scheme is more practical, because the cars will become Army property and can be resold. He added that the Toyota dealer and the Army are finalizing the agreement for the vehicles.

According to Santiago, the Army is "stretching every peso" that is given to it by the government and that the lease-to-own arrangement for the acquisition of these vehicles will help them prevent their car rental budget from "being thrown away."

"We are also going to put them (the cars) under one motorpool unit so they cannot be abused — like officers’ wives using them. We are changing the culture of the Army here," Santiago added.

According to the Army chief, a new policy will be implemented with regards to the vehicles in the soon-to-be Army motorpool unit: Army staff cars can only be used during office hours or on official functions, as is the practice in the United States Armed Forces.