DND creates panel to look into alleged chopper deal anomaly

From GMA News (Mar 12): DND creates panel to look into alleged chopper deal anomaly

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin has created an investigating committee to look into the alleged irregularities in the defense department's procurement of 21 refurbished UH-1 or Huey helicopters  amounting to P1.2 billion.

This, even as Defense spokesman Peter Paul Galvez said the reported irregularities are highly unlikely.

“The SND (Secretary of National Defense) does not tolerate the alleged report of those anomalies and ill activities,” Galvez said.

Galvez also said the committee will be under Defense Undersecretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs and Strategic Concerns Pio Lorenzo Batino.

“'Yung committee will be headed, I believe si Usec Batino. Tapos I believe they will be given approximately 90 days [to finish the investigation],” he said.

Galvez said Gazmin was "disappointed" with the report on possible anomaly.

“He is disappointed, but siyempre he also wants to know the nature of the story bakit ganyan. We need to address all these issues quickly at saka marami kasi tayong projects so pinapangalagaan natin 'yung projects natin,” he said.

A report on the Manila Times quoted a source as saying that the procurement of the choppers was “tailor-fitted” for a “favored” bidder.

It added that after three failed bid attempts, the favored bidder managed to bag the deal “through negotiation” with officials of the Department of National Defense (DND).

Galvez said the DND, particularly its Bids and Awards Committee, has been transparent in all its activities.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/451137/news/nation/dnd-creates-panel-to-look-into-alleged-chopper-deal-anomaly