At least 50,000 assault rifles will be added to the armory of the Philippine National Police (PNP), with Interior Secretary Mar Roxas saying the procurement of the rifles maybe done within the year.
The money will come from the P9 billion approved by President Aquino for the capability enhancement program for the police organization according to Roxas.
“We will equip all policemen assign in the field with long firearms, that is more or less 50,000 pieces,” said Roxas in an interview after the 112th Police Service Anniversary program at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
He said they are now conducting study as to what specifications would fit the policemen in the field.
In his speech as the guest of honor in the ceremony, President Aquino announced that he approved some P9 billion for the modernization of the PNP.
“Kanina po ay binanggit ng ating hepe na meron kayong sa first tranche na P2 billion. Sabi ko kay Mar (Roxas): ‘Mar, parang maliit yata yung P2 billion’ [Earlier the chief said that you have a first tranche of P2 billion. I told Mar, that amount maybe too small],” said Aquino.
“Ang tanda kong na-approve ay hindi ganun kase ang pinaalala po sa akin first tranche lang po yon dahil ang kabuuan ay P9 billion [What I remember approving is higher because that is only the fist tranche, since the total amount is P9 billion,” he added.
Roxas said the P9 billion fund is expected to be spent from third quarter of this year up to end of the second quarter next year.
Aside from the long firearms, among those that will be funded of the amount are communication equipment, more or less 2,000 patrol cars and hiring of 30,000 civilian employees who will replace policemen doing deskwork.
The P9 billion fund is on top of the annual P2 billion capability enhancement fund of the PNP, according to Roxas.
“The fund was already approved by the President, it is already with the DBM (Department of Budget and Management) and it will be released as soon as the PNP needs it,” said Roxas.
The procurement strategy that they will implement, according to Roxas, is a “one time-big time” purchase such as what they did in the purchase of 75,000 pieces of Glock pistols where the government managed to save P200 million as it bought each gun at P16,000 as compared to the market value of P41,000 each.
“We can save a lot under this scheme so we will be doing the same in the purchase of long firearms and in the patrol cars,” said Roxas.
He said the bidding process for the patrol cars could be done next month.
Aquino also praised the PNP during the 112th Police Service Anniversary program for its accomplishments, specifically citing the feat of PO2 Webster Liwag of the Malolos, Bulacan police who turned down the P3 million bribe during the arrest of the ringleaders of the Dominguez carnapping group and the police’s anti-narcotics unit for the P2 billion drug haul in Zambales.
http://mb.com.ph/News/National_News/27018/PNP_to_buy_50,000_assault_rifles_#.Ugo7Vo7D9lY
My guess is that significant numbers of the assault weapons will wind up with the PNP Regional Mobile Groups. These groups are quasi-military organizations that often engage in COIN operations targeting insurgent forces.
ReplyDeleteThe following is a mission statement from the 10th Police Regional Mobile Group based in Cagayan de Oro. Aspects of the Group's mission go beyond those associated with tradition police activities.
10th RSG MISSION AND FUNCTIONS:
To plan and conduct special operations anywhere in the Region, particularly in the aspect of Counter-insurgency, unconventional warfare, anti- terrorism and other related operations.
•To respond to crisis, contingency or counter-insurgency related situations extending beyond the capabilities of the Police Offices and Municipal Police Stations.
•To develop, organize and train organic personnel in the furtherance of assigned mission.
•Command, control and support organic and attached elements.
•Establish, support and operate a forward operations base whenever the need for such arises in coordination with other PNP and AFP units within AOR.
•Conduct suppressive operations against dissidents and some other forms of lawlessness as an independent unit or part of a larger force.
•Perform law enforcement operations in support for its basic mission when so directed by the Regional Director.
•Conduct long range reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisitions.
•Conduct recovery/hostage operations.
•Render civil assistance, search and rescue operations during civic actions, disaster and other natural calamities in an emergency situation and
•Perform other mission as directed by the Regional Director.