PNP lacks 16T firearms
Philippine National Police (PNP) Director for Logistics Noe Wong said the country's national police is facing a shortage of 16,000 short firearms. The 16,000 short firearms represents 13 percent of the total shortage.
Wong said they have already filled some 87 percent of the shortage of short firearms in the entire country. However, he said the country's police force is addressing the problem on the deficiency of firearms.
He said they are waiting for the delivery of 6,000 units of short firearms to fill the shortage. The 6,000 short firearms will be distributed to policemen from all over the country particularly those areas covered by the ASEAN summit. The ASEAN summit will be held in Boracay, Davao and Palawan. Pre-ministerial meetings have already been held.
Wong attributed the shortage of firearms in the financial constraint the PNP is currently facing. The purchase of the firearms depends on the capital outlay of the PNP. The budget of the national police depends on the General Appropriations Act.
Other than the purchase of firearms, the PNP also wants to improve their communication and mobility capabilities. The police have to improve their air asset. The PNP fall short on their air asset, he said.
Wong, an Ilonggo was in the city (Tuesday) along with outgoing PNP Director Arturo Lomibao Jr. and Northern Police District Director Leopoldo Bataoil for an inspection and groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of new police stations in the towns of Mina, Tubungan and for the construction of a building at the Iloilo Police Provincial Office in Sta. Barbara.
Meanwhile, PNP Director Lomibao said the purchase of firearms was done above board. His reaction was relative to reports that no bidding process was made before the purchase of firearms. "Bidding is not only the means by which we could acquire the guns," said Lomibao.
He did not categorically say on how the purchase was done whether it is a negotiated bidding. However, Lomibao said he is willing to face any inquiry regarding the firearms purchase, Lomibao said