Amidst accusations of irregularities in the public bidding for the purchase of service weapons for the Philippine National Police, the PNP Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) insists that there were no irregularities, and that Department of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Rico Puno had no hand in the process.

"Wala pa hong contract-signing. After the contract-signing, 'yung Notice to Proceed. 'Yung Notice of Award ang meron. 'Yung sinasabi ho kanina na insinuation na on the time na pagkamatay ni Sec. Robredo. Hindi ho 'yun, mali ho 'yun," said Deputy Director General Emelito Sarmiento, BAC Chair, in an interview with 24 Oras.

Puno is now under fire after losing bidders accused Puno of circumventing bidding rules to favor certain bidders for the purchase of 60,000 service weapons for the PNP.

R. Espineli Trading, which bid Jericho 9mm pistols from Israel worth P16,250 each, had topped the list of seven bidders, but was later disqualified after it was found that it had not complied with documentary requirements, such as the certification from the Insurance Commission and the embassy in Israel.

The procurement was then awarded to the next lowest bidder, Trust Trade, which bid Glock 9mm pistols worth P16,659.94 each.

Second time around

This is not the first time that the winning bidder was disqualified post-bidding.

Last year, R. Espineli Trading also won the bidding for the purchase of 1,500 assault rifles worth P89,000 each.

However, it was also post-disqualified for non-submission of documentary requirements. Because there was no other bidder, it was declared a failed bidding.

Because of this, the programmed bidding for this year's purchase of 1,800 rifles was also suspended. The program has been shelved for further study.

No irregularities

Sarmiento insisted that the bidding was not hastily done, and dismissed insinuations regarding reports that the owner of R. Espineli Trading and Puno traveled together recently in Israel.

"Wala hong miyembro ng BAC or BAC Secratariat na pumunta ho roon at sumama sa kanila. At alam ho namin ang prohibisyon ng batas. Bawal ho 'yun," he said.  

Sarmiento also said that Puno is not a voting member of the BAC.

"As Undersecretary for Peace and Order, he can always sit down, pero not as voting member, not as regular member. Wala ho siyang dinidikta sa amin," he said.

Meanwhile, Trust Trade claims that the bidding process has always been open to media.

"In-open ho 'yan sa media from conference to bidding to testing. Naka-open yan. Definitely wala ho kaming tinatanggap na any payment from PNP. Wala ho kaming kargamento na ipinaparating sa port," said Joy Gutierrez-Jose, director for marketing and operations.

R. Espinili Trading refused to comment, saying it should not be questioned because it is the losing bidder.

Congress to investigate Puno

The House committee on public order and safety has said it will conduct an investigation on the matter.

The Senate is also investigating Puno for allegedly trying to enter the condominium unit of former DILG Secretary Robredo a day after his plane crashed in Masbate.

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago said she would unmask the alleged backers of Puno during a hearing on Friday of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments, revision of codes and laws, which she chairs. — Aileen Estoquia/ BM, GMA News