A SUCCESSFUL Government to Government (G2G) weapons’ procurement contract between the Philippines and Israel has saved the Philippine National Police (PNP) a total of P108 million which will be used to buy additional essential police equipment, PNP chief, General Debold M. Sinas said yesterday.
“We have pledged to the President that the PNP will not allow corruption under my leadership. We will be transparent with our transactions and will use our taxpayers’ money wisely,” Sinas said as he bared the G2G transaction between the government in general and the PNP in particular and the State of Israel.
The PNP made history with the signing of several contracts for the procurement of security and defense equipment following the G2G transaction successfully made by the PNP with the State of Israel represented by retired Brigadier Gen. Yair Kulas, director of the IMOD-SIBAT of the Israel Ministry of Defense.
“That contract signing is a clear manifestation of our commitment to further equip our law enforcers with increased capability while working with world-renowned country producer of high-quality firearms and other defense equipment — Israel,” said Sinas.
The top cop said that thru the G2G contract which enabled the PNP to acquire low-priced by high-quality armaments and other defense equipment, the Israeli government will deliver to the PNP 13,457 units of caliber 5.56mm Basic Assault Rifles with Emtan Karmiel; 20 units of 7.62mm Light Machine Guns with IWI; and the Intelligence Component of the PNP Secure, Mobile, Artificial –Intelligence Driven, Real-time or SMART Policing Program.
Sinas said the G2G mode of acquisition is pursuant to Section 4.2 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 9184 which the PNP took advantage of as PNP officials were able to save for the Philippine government up to P107,769,090 in taxpayers’ money.
Under the contract, the PNP closed the procurement deal for 5.56 mm basic assault rifles of the same superior quality of rifles from previous procurements for only P35,280 per unit, far lower than the price obtained through Public Bidding last 2017 to 2019 with a price ranging from P42,000 up to P87,000 per unit.
The huge amount saved for the government is the PNP’s share for best practices under RA 9184 on the procurement of specified qualities of firepower equipment acquired under the mission-essential tools, assets and resources, said Sinas.
PNP officials involved in the procurement program assured these equipment have passed strict quality tests. The vests and helmets passed world-class tests and that during actual testing, they were checked for bullet penetrations or perforations as part of the PNP requirement.
The PNP leadership said they are very thankful that President Rodrigo Duterte is ‘very very supportive of the PNP’ and is seeing to it that they would be fully-equipped as they battle drugs, criminality and corruption.
Sinas said they will pursue their modernization plan and will be prioritizing the acquisition of necessary and basic equipment and infrastructures.
Officials have maintained that a graft-free PNP bidding process over the past four years of the Duterte administration has not only ensured that quality ‘move, shoot, communicate and investigate’ tools and other equipment would be procured by the force but at the same time enable it to save millions that can be used to buy what officers in round-the-clock patrols really need.
