Ejercito wants Senate to probe chopper deal

Opposition Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito yesterday called on the Senate to probe the Department of National Defense’s (DND) alleged anomalous procurement of 21 UH-1 or Huey helicopters worth 1.26-billion – a deal reportedly “tailor-fitted for a favored bidder.” In filing Senate Resolution No. 1238, Ejercito said the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee should conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation to determine if the contract complied with government procurement laws and likewise determine the accountability of public officials involved in the chopper deal.

Ejercito, citing reports said the 1.26billion contract to purchase refurbished Huey helicopters appears to be non-compliant with the contract’s Term of Reference (TOR).

The contract was awarded to the Joint Venture of Rice Aircraft Services, Inc. and Eagle Copters, Ltd. last December 28, 2013.

According to Ejercito, most of the units were found defective. So far, only seven out of the 21 helicopters were deemed “acceptable” while one is still undergoing testing. Thirteen of the units are still in various stages of testing and assembly.

“Albeit the delay in the completion of the turnover of the helicopters and the various violations made by the supplier, which are clearly disparaging and prejudicial to the government, the DND made no termination of the contract and is still allowing the supplier to deliver,” Ejercito said in the explanatory note of his resolution.

“With the alleged defects of the delivered helicopters, the lives of our air force men, who are end-users, are put at risk,” the senator who is a member of the Senate committee on National Defense and Security stressed.

“The government was denied the chance to negotiate the project to qualified suppliers who can deliver the best suit- ed helicopters for the combat missions of the Philippine Air Force,” he said.

“The Senate should check if any violations were made on the procurement law in the purchase of these helicopters. We have to look into this deal because 1.6- billion worth of choppers that cannot be used and have obsolete parts are disadvantageous to the AFP Modernization Program,” Ejercito noted.