No irregularities in bidding for attack choppers — DND

The Department of National Defense (DND) has denied a lawmaker's allegation that the bidding for seven attack helicopters for P3.2 billion from a Polish company may have been rigged. DND spokesperson Eduardo Batac said the department followed all procedures in acquiring eight brand new Sokol Falcon helicopters for the Philippine Air Force from Polish company PZL Swidnik. “The requirements were satisfied. The procedures and processes were followed," he said in an interview Tuesday. Batac made this statement after Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teodoro Casiño said in DND’s budget hearing last week that the bidding for the aircraft may have been rigged since only one supplier participated in the process. The DND spokesperson explained that only PZL Swidnik managed to bid because five other suppliers, including aerospace corporation Boeing Company, backed out due to their inability to satisfy requirements from the department’s Bids and Awards Committee. He added that having only one bidder in government procurement does not mean that the procedure has been rigged. “As long as you find one that is responsive and that will satisfy your technical speculations, then that can be declared as a successful bidding," he said. Batac maintained that there is no need to declare a failure of bidding of the attack choppers. The planned purchase of the brand new helicopters for the Air Force was part of the Aquino administration’s military modernization program, according to Batac. The state-of-the-art aircraft are equipped with twin engines, night vision capability and armored seats that protect its passengers from bullets from small firearms, he added. - Andreo Calonzo/KBK, GMANews.TV