Dela Rosa: Chopper carrying PNP chief Gamboa that crashed in Laguna is new

Senator Ronald dela Rosa said Thursday the helicopter carrying Philippine National Police chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa, which crashed in Laguna, was new.

"Bagong bago 'yun.  'Yan ay  Bell 429, brand new 'yun,  twin engine," Dela Rosa said in an interview with Dobol B sa News TV.

He added it was the only Bell 429  twin-engine rotary wing aircraft of the PNP.

"Isa lang kasi ang Bell 429 ng PNP. 'Yung ibang chopper ay ibang model," he said.

Dela Rosa said the chopper was acquired during his stint as PNP chief and it was Gamboa who led the Bids and Awards Committee for its procurement.

"That was procured during my time, itong bago ngayon,  actually mga one year old or mag-tu-two years pa lang 'yan.  Pagbili niyan bago talaga 'yan. Si Gen. Gamboa mismo ang chairman ng Bids and Awards Committee na nagtalakay sa pagbili niyan," he said.

"Ingat na ingat 'yan sa pag-conduct ng bidding dahil alam natin may mga nakasuhan pati dating chief PNP. Ingat na ingat 'yan sa pag bid niyan," he added.

In 2018, Dela Rosa said the helicopter was acquired through a public bidding with the supply contract awarded on June 28, 2017 to Bell Helicopter Textron Incorporated of Fort Worth, Texas at a contract price of P435,797,548 funded from the General Appropriations Act of 2017.

Dela Rosa and other PNP officers then used the newly-acquired aircraft to go to the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City for his  testimonial parade before he retired.—AOL, GMA News