The Lower House of the Philippine Congress, the House of Representatives will conduct a probe and inquiry into the controversial procurement by the Department of National Defense (DND) of the allegedly defective helicopters worth P1.21 billion. The investigation of the alleged defective choppers was prompted by Resolution 1995.
Rep. Romeo Acop of Antipolo City, Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil of Pangasinan and Rep. Samuel Pagdilao of party-list group ACT-CIS filed the resolution that prompted the House of Representative to investigate the alleged defective helicopters. The three signatories of the resolution were former Senior Police Officers of the PNP.
According to the resolution, the three said that the DND entered into a contract on December 23, 2013 with the joint venture of Rice Aircraft Services, Inc. and Eagle Copters, Ltd. for the acquisition of 21 UH-1 Huey helicopters. The 21 helicopters was not delivered but instead only 10 units were delivered.
Out of the 10 units delivered, the DND accepted only two “because the other helicopters were found to have defective engines and insufficient spare parts and accessores, and were likewise not compliant with the technical requirements set in the contract, and even one of the helicopter delivered has no rotor blades.” the three said.
Rep. Acop and his colleagues pointed out that there were allegations that Rice Aircraft Services “had deliberately falsified bid documents and forged the signature of Philippine Air Force officers in order to qualify for the transaction.”
