By Meanne Corvera
Eagle News Service
Senator Panfilo Lacson on Thursday, July 5, expressed support for Senator Grace Poe’s call for a probe into the Philippine National Police’s purchase of Mahindra police patrol jeeps worth P1.8 billion in 2015, saying all officials involved, including then-Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, should be summoned.
In a press conference, Lacson, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, said he would call for a hearing if the resolution calling for the inquiry was referred to him.
“Noong pino-procure pa lang, walang after sales service, walang track record, parang may mali na. At that time, inisip ko, mali na agad ang pag-procure,” Lacson said.
Apart from Roxas, who was also the ex-officio chairman of the National Police Commission, Lacson said the officials then of the Department of Budget and Management should be summoned.
“Kailangan talaga tignan para hindi na maulit uli. Pababayaan na lang yung procurement tapos bahala na si Batman. Paano natin babalikan ‘yun?” he asked.
“Mag slacken ‘yung kanilang drive, dahil kung wala kang mobility— the three basic na pangangailangan ng pulis move, shoot, and communicate—kung maraming patrol cars ang hindi gumagana apektado ang
efficiency,” he added.
The Commission on Audit flagged the PNP’s purchase of the patrol vehicles from Mahindra Enforcer and Mahindra Scorpio, saying that based on its study, 57.20 percent or more than half were not satisfied with the vehicles’ performance.
According to COA, the police should have first conducted an “operational needs assessment” before making the purchase of the vehicles, which it said “pushed back the full attainment” of police operations because of their flaws.
