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Comelec buys P20M worth of SUVs for staff


The Commission on Elections (Comelec) bought P20 million worth of brand new sports utility vehicles (SUVs) for its senior staff despite pronouncements that the poll body is cash-strapped. Between November and December last year, the Comelec approved a resolution releasing funds from the poll body’s savings to purchase vehicles for its 14 directors in Manila. Retired Comelec Commissioner Resurreccion Borra said three types of vehicles were bought - Toyota Innnova, Mitsubishi Fusion, and Hyundai Tucson. Brand new Innova cars cost between P800,000 to P1.150 million each. The cost of Mitsubishi’s Fusion ranges from P950,000 to more than P1 million, while Hyundai’s Tucson is priced between P900,000 to P1.15 million each. The Comelec resolution was passed when Borra took over the leadership of the commission after the resignation of Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. in October 2007. Borra denied that the resolution was signed during his stint as Comelec chairman. “They were purchased during Abalos's (time)," Borra said in an interview. James Jimenez, Comelec spokesman, however, said the resolution was approved during Borra’s term. A source who asked not to be named, because he has no authority to speak to the media, said the Comelec prioritized the purchase of vehicles over the "Christmas bonus" of its employees. “They say that we should have an opportunity to ride in those cars because our P3,000 bonus went there," the source said, adding that while the Comelec allowed a multi-million purchase for cars, it lacked supplies during the 2007 elections. Jimenez defended the purchase. He also refused to describe the vehicles as luxury cars. Jimenez, who admitted to have been issued a Toyota Innova, said Comelec directors in Manila need the vehicles to “load supplies" and to “travel." He did not say if the procurement underwent a bidding process. “I’m absolutely sure that they were canvassed," said Jimenez. Under the rules of the Commission on Audit all government purchases should pass through a bidding process. Jimenez said members of the senior staff “were asked preferences (as to the type of car they need) as long as they were of the same price range." Another Comelec official said the poll body issued new cars to directors because the vehicles they were using were already “dilapidated." The official was referring to Mitsubishi Strada units that were given to senior staff and field officers in 1998 under the modernization project of then Commissioner Luzviminda Tancangco. Jimenez said vehicles previously issued to the commission's senior staff have been designated to field directors. In 2002, two weeks after he became Comelec chairman, Abalos approved the release of P8 million to buy vehicles for the commission's seven commissioners. - GMANews.TV

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