Solon warns of P3.2-B ‘attack chopper’ scam By Charlie V. Manalo 09/18/2010

Solon warns of P3.2-B ‘attack chopper’ scam
By Charlie V. Manalo
09/18/2010

A party-list lawmaker has expressed apprehension that last week’s bidding of seven military night-capable attack helicopters

worth P3.2 billion may have been rigged.

At yesterday’s budget hearing of the Armed Forces

of the Philippines (AFP), military officials revealed that only one bidder, WSK-PZL Swidnik S.A of Poland, participated and eventually bagged the contract worth P3,180,169,000. 

The bidding was held last Sept. 9 at the AFP headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

The helicopter purchase is a project under the AFP Capability Upgrade Program funded by the annual P5-billion AFP Modernization Fund.

Upon questioning by Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teodoro Casiño, military officials admitted that the P3.2-billion budget was originally for 14 attack helicopters.

In December 2009, then Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales announced that the acquisition was down to eight 

W-3 Sokol combat utility helicopters worth P2.8 billion. But in last week’s bidding, the number of units had gone down to seven while the cost increased to P3.2 billion..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100918hed4.html