PNP signs P1-B gun contract amid overpricing controversy

Despite the threat of a possible congressional investigation, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has signed a P1-billion contract that will provide around 60,000 pistols for the police force, a senior official said Wednesday.   The gun procurement deal with the winning bidder Trust Trade was signed last Monday, September 10, according to PNP Deputy Director General and Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) head Emelito Sarmiento.   He added that the contract has been transmitted to the office of PNP chief Nicanor Bartolome, who has 15 days to approve or reject the signed contract for the 9mm Glock 17 Generation 4 pistols.  

According to the Glock website, the Glock 17 is the most widely used law enforcement pistol worldwide because of its unsurpassed reliability, above-average magazine capacity of 17 cartridges in the standard magazine and its low weight. GMANews.TV

The House of Representatives committee on public order and safety has announced plans to hold a hearing about the weapons deal after AGHAM party-list Rep. Angelo Palmones questioned the alleged irregularities in the procurement of the pistols.   In particular, they want to invite former Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Rico Puno, who recently resigned, for questioning over the procurement of the guns.   Police officials have maintained that Puno, who sits as an observer in the BAC, was not involved in the procurement of the pistols and there were no anomalies regarding the Glock gun deal.   “Siguro yung mga losing bidders they could not accept the decision of the BAC so now they are resorting to media,” Sarmiento said.   “We believe na itong procurement na 9mm pistol worth 1 billion is a model not only for the PNP but in the government,” legal Service director and BAC member Chief Supt. Frank Uyami added.   “Kasi kitang-kita niyo naman ang laking savings… so with the savings of around 200 million plus, it is very advantageous sa government,” he added.   According to reputable gun websites, the usual retail price of one 9mm Glock 17 Generation 4 pistol is $539 or around P22,000. The PNP bought the pistols at P16,659.94 each.   Over-pricing of M4 rifles?   President Benigno Aquino III had earlier said he was satisfied with the bidding process for the Glock pistols, but had raised questions about a separate contract involving M4 assault rifles for the police force.  

According to M4 manufacturer, Cold Defense LLC, the M4 is the carbine version of the M16 rifle and is the only 5.56mm carbine in the world today that is manufactured to meet or exceed the stringent performance specifications (MILSPEC) required for acceptance and use by the U.S. Armed Forces. GMANews.TV

‘Yung sa rifle hindi ako satisfied,” Aquino told reporters in Russia on September 8 during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting.   “‘Yung presyo… parang may na-acquire previous to this, ‘yung contract na in-execute before we stepped into office, 150,000. ‘Yung indicative price nila naging 119,000. Tapos parang ito yatang kino-consider nila is now what -- 80,000 per unit,” he said.   “Noong nag-umpisa ito about two years ago, mga 2,000 dollars ’yung gusto nilang M4 so roughly tama ’yung presyo. Pero ’pag tumingin ka sa Internet ngayon, you can get it for as little as 800 plus dollars e, so 800 times 40 will give you 32, ‘di ba, and 32 and 80 are very far off,” Aquino said.   In an exclusive interview with GMA News’ Jessica Soho on Tuesday, however, Puno said there was no over-pricing in the bidding for the rifles, apparently contradicting Aquino’s observation.   “Hindi ko nga maintindihan e. Ano bang over-pricing na sinasabi? Lahat ng mga tao, even the dealers, international dealers are telling me that you got the best price for that,” Puno said.   “The initial bid was, nandoon yata yung binibili in the past, was about 120,000 per rifle. Then bumaba daw ng 115,000. And when we opened the bid for this, when we were the ones supervising already, it was 89,900,” he continued.   Puno resignation   Puno announced his resignation on Tuesday after questions were raised over his actions following the death of DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo in a plane crash in Masbate last month.   Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago has invited Puno to a hearing on Friday to explain why he went to Robredo’s condo unit the day after the plane crash, even though Aquino only instructed him to secure the late official’s office.   At the time of his death, Robredo was reportedly undertaking several investigations, including the weapons deals allegedly involving Puno.   But Puno rejected insinuations that he was involved in any anomaly, saying he was with Robredo at the same event on the day the secretary died.   “Sabi ko nga sa kanya, boss nabili na natin yung mga baril. Okay na yung PNP, e. Tapos na po ang trabaho ko kay Presidente,” Puno said in the GMA News interview. He added that he was preparing to resign even before the controversies over the weapons deals and the lockdown of Robredo’s offices erupted.   Robredo probing rifles deal   On Monday, Sarmiento said R. Espineli Trading won the bidding last year for the purchase of 1,500 assault rifles worth P89,000 each but it was later disqualified for non-submission of documentary requirements.   The programmed bidding for this year's purchase of 1,800 M4 rifles worth P230 million was shelved after it was discovered that there was a lower price available in the market, he added.   Aquino said he ordered the suspension of the bidding process and the investigation of the officers involved in the negotiations when he found out about it.   “That was something that Secretary Robredo was also checking up on,” he said.   “Pinahinto ko ‘yung buong proseso para doon sa rifle dahil---at sa totoo lang somehow, ano, nakalusot doon sa bureaucracy, may umabot na post-evaluation period after sinabi kong ihinto,” Aquino said.   “At pinatanong ko nga, ‘Bakit nagkakaroon ng testing kung ang utos sa inyo ay ihinto?’ So lahat ng involved doon ay naka-- parang subject to an investigation at medyo floating muna lalo na ‘yung uniformed personnel,” he added.   According to the United States Army Fact Files, the US military started using the M4 carbine assault rifle in 1997 to “deter, and if necessary, repel adversaries by enabling individuals and small units to engage targets with accurate, lethal, direct fire.”   The M4 rifle is described as the compact version of the M16A2 assault rifle, “with a collapsible stock, a flat-top upper receiver accessory rail and a detachable handle/rear aperture site assembly.”   Among the well-known manufacturers of the firearm are the Colt Defense LLC and Bushmaster Firearms, with prices ranging upwards of $1,000. – Gian Geronimo/YA/DVM, GMA News