RP govt probes ammunition from Israel

The government has initiated an investigation into the questionable procurement of substandard ammunition for mortars worth P264 million from an Israel-based firm last year, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Monday. This, as Teodoro boasted that there have been no “scandals" during his stint in the Department of National Defense (DND), a position he has been holding since August 2007. “There have been no scandals. There have been attempts but we have nipped them in the bud," he said in a speech marking the DND’s foundation anniversary. He said the irregular delivery of thousands of 81 mm and 600 mm mortars by the Talon Security Consulting and Trade Ltd. was contained in a report by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Teodoro, a presidential aspirant in next year’s elections, said he requested the FBI to do the initial investigation but did not say why. Teodoro, a former lawmaker, is set to quit his post middle of this month to prepare for his presidential bid in next year's elections. The investigation will be spearheaded by Defense undersecretary for internal affairs Ariston delos Reyes and undersecretary for legal affairs and special concerns Alberto Valenzuela. Armed Forces chief Gen. Victor Ibrado said although the procurement went through the normal process, the delivered items were found not in accordance with the agreed specifications. “This is case of delivering items which are not according to specifications," he said. Sought for comment, Talon finance officer Edna Benavidez denied that their products were substandard, saying it was Teodoro who signed the contract himself. “We have not made any delivery that’s substandard. We have records to show that there is no problem with our ammunition. They should ask themselves if the items they are procuring are substandard, they are the ones who set the parameters," she said. She said the 60 mm mortars delivered to the AFP in April last year were worth P164 million while the 81 mm mortars delivered in December were worth over P100 million. - GMANews.TV