PNP says big ticket items will not affected by Duterte’s order on procurement

January 15, 2020

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Wednesday their big ticket projects will not be affected by the order of President Rodrigo Duterte to remove its procurement powers.

“There is not much effect because of our practice on early procurement,” said Police Lieutenant General Archie Francisco Gamboa, PNP officer-in-charge, told reporters at Camp Crame.

Gamboa said out of the 15 big ticket items for 2020, 11 were procured and ready for awarding.

“For 2020, of course we are aware that the 2019 capital outlay appropriation has been extended up to December 31. And then out of the 15 items for 2020, 11 were actually procured and ready for award,” he said.

He said only four projects are still under procurement procedures but did not say what these were.

“So we have up to December 31 of this year to complete this but because it has been a practice of the PNP to procure early so there is no problem with regards to that, big ticket items of the PNP,” he said.

Duterte directed Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano to handle the procurement process of the PNP after he found out about the alleged overpriced P950, 000 radar speed gun used to monitor overspeeding vehicles. 

Gamboa said the PNP will meet with Ano to discuss the matter.

"We will sit down and probably discuss in detail how to go about it, but for the meantime that the President declared that, then the PNP will follow the President's directive," he said. 

Gamboa said he does not intend to find out what happened since Duterte unintentionally approved the proposed project during the command conference. He added the PNP will just follow Duterte’s order.

“Well I really don't know what really happened...  The President has already spoken so let's leave it at that. I don't have also any intentions of finding out why because he already gave his directive, (it’s) very clear so the PNP will follow,” he said.

On Tuesday, Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac, the PNP spokesman, said they just presented their “wish list” to Duterte which caused the misunderstanding as it has not yet undergone procurement process.

Banac said they submitted their explanation to Ano and the PNP apologized for the incident.

Earlier, Gamboa said the PNP modernization and procurement of more mission-essential equipment for mobility, firepower, communication and investigation will be the hallmark of PNP administrative thrusts for the year with greater emphasis on PNP best practices in transparency and public accountability in all procurement transactions.

“Year 2020 will see the PNP literally soaring to greater heights with a fleet of ten rotary-wing aircraft that will provide tactical support to ground operations of PNP units,” he added.

“The almost 100 percent absorptive capacity of the PNP in terms of utilizing government appropriations for capital outlay will remain to be the standard,” he said. Ella Dionisio/DMS