‘Only’ 10% of Mahindra patrol cars no longer running, says PNP

The Philippine National Police knows the challenges posed by its acquisition of more than 2,000 Mahindra patrol vehicles worth a total P1.89 billion in 2015.

But according to Mariz Umali's report on "24 Oras", PNP officials pointed out that "only" ten percent of the vehicles were no longer in running condition.

One of the unfortunate patrol vehicles has been stuck at the motor pool of the Lucena City police because spare parts have yet to arrive for its defective brakes.

In Merida, Leyte, the police's Mahindra Double Enforcer patrol car is hounded by chronic issues such as needing a new oil filter once every two weeks.

The PNP in Laoag, Ilocos Norte has better luck with its Mahindra patrol car as officers say they have no problem with the vehicle regularly maintained.

The Commission on Audit in a recent report questioned the procurement of the Mahindra patrol vehicles for supposedly being disadvantageous to the PNP.

For instance, the COA said the PNP failed to conduct an operational needs assessment before it bought the vehicles.

The PNP said it was not involved in the procurement process when the vehicles were bought in 2015.

The organization pointed to the procurement service of the Department of Budget and Management as the one that processed the bidding. —NB, GMA News