In separate rulings, members of the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) – which is composed of at least 12 Cabinet secretaries – found that the AFP contracts for the purchase of additional squad automatic weapons (SAW), more commonly known as "mini-me" assault rifles, and VHF/FM tactical radio sets failed to meet the requirements set by government authorities which allow direct or "single source" contracting.

In 2003, the AFP contracted private entities to supply R593 million worth of SAWs and VHF/FM radios valued at R930.8 million.

Sources said both procurements were done through direct contracting. The AFP justified this mode of purchase by citing the need for additional units of the assault weapon and tactical radio set which are "interoperable" with those in the AFP inventory previously acquired through public bidding from the same suppliers.

In military parlance, the term interoperable refers to the compatibility of newly purchased modern military hardware to the old weapons and equipment that are still being used by AFP units.

The SAWs are presently being used in 32 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom and Singapore. On the issue of interoperability, senior military officials said that the "minimes" can be mounted with magazines or belts from 5.56 rifles like the M-16.

Presently, the "assault weapon" being used by AFP field units is the M-60 General Purpose Machine Gun. But squad unit members have complained that they find the weapon very heavy and bulky.

Sources said some 360 units of SAWs and 50 other weapons have been distributed by the AFP General Headquarters for Army and Maritime ground units, respectively, during the past three years.

Sources also said that the SAW passed the rigidity, reliability and endurance tests conducted by the AFP before the contract was approved.

But officials of the GPPB, an inter-agency body created under Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act, ruled that the contracts did not fall under specific circumstances provided by law where direct contracting of single-source contracting is allowed.

The GPPB emphasized that an "open and competitive" bidding must be conducted for the purchase of the equipment.

Executive Order No. 423, issued in April last year, mandated the GPPB to review all government contracts that have not undergone public bidding and with price tags worth at least R500 million.

"Considering the immediate need of the AFP for these essential equipment in its internal security operations, the AFP is directed to study and recommend the most advantageous mode of procuring the SAWs and tactical radios, taking into the account the GPPB rulings and the recommendations of the DND bids and awards committee," Cruz said in his order for an investigation on the issue.

"The mode of procurement to be recommended by the AFP must be compliant with Republic Act 9184 and all legal requirements and take into account factors such as commonality and/or interoperability of the AFP equipment," he said.

Cruz also cited the need to review the feasibility and affordability of the "front loading" the total requirements of the AFP for SAWs and tactical radios for the next six years to address the need for interoperability.

Soldiers insulating selves from partisan politics, says Cruz

By YUL MALICSE

Defense Secretary Avelino "Nonong" J. Cruz Jr. said "there is hope for this country" if the men and women of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) continue to act "professionally and insulate themselves from partisan politics."

The message was issued during the Department of National Defense (DND)-AFP officers’ New Year’s call on him at the Tejeros Hall, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

He said the nation faced great challenges in the year that just ended, and "we saw how constant bickering can distract the people from the things that truly matters."

"We saw how the institutions of our young republic were again put to a test. But amidst great diversity, Filipinos again succeeded to move forward, and with hard work, ingenuity, and determination, Filipinos responded to the challenges," he said.

Cruz said that a crucial factor in the positive developments in the latter part of last year was the ability of the country’s defense and military establishment to stay true to its mandate.

Cruz said that without fanfare, the DND and AFP made significant strides in the implementation of the Philippine Defense Reform (PDR) program.

"We are now upgrading our capabilities by way of implementing our Multi-Year Capability Upgrade Plan for the AFP," he said.

Already completed is the plan for the first tier of the three-tiered program that will cover the next six years at a cost of at least R30 billion on top of the regular AFP budget which the President has committed to give to the AFP, he said.

"We shall also continue to promote the morale of and welfare of our soldiers and take care of their families, as we improve their fighting capabilities," he said.