Who keeps the defective rifles?
The members of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the city government failed to show the five AR-rifles to the members of the city council in an executive session.
In last Tuesday's executive session called for by Vice Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, the BAC members have tossed the responsibility on who keeps the five AR-rifles bought by the city government for P675,000 for the use of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team.
The BAC is headed by Atty. Edgar Gil, chief of the City Legal Office, with members composed of City Administrator Melchor Tan, Executive Assistant to the city mayor Francis Te, General Service Office head Agustin Sangrador, City Budget Officer Ninda Atinado and City Treasurer Katherine Tingson.
The firearms have already been recalled last week upon the orders of Mayor Jerry Treñas. His order was in response to reports that the firearms are defective.
First to arrive in the executive session was Atty. Edgar Gil, chief of the City Legal Office (CLO) and same time BAC head. Details of their conversations were made in private.
The members of the legislative body waited for GSO head Sangrador but to no avail. Sangrador was already informed of the executive session but opted to ignore the executive session.
Sangrador's mobile phone was out of the coverage area when called by members of the legislative body to shed light on the specialized weapons. His immediate employees who have knowledge on the procurement of the firearms were also nowhere to be located.
There were also efforts to divert Sangrador's hand in keeping the firearms as they placed the responsibility to City Treasurer Tingson. Tingson denied having the firearms.
It was established later that BAC members are prohibited to speak on the issue, except for Atty. Gil.
Meanwhile, Mayor Treñas said he has already directed the BAC to cooperate with the members of the legislative body and allow them to take a look on the defective firearms.
The reports on the defective rifles were confirmed in a letter sent by Chief Inspector Salvador Dagoon of SWAT to the chief executive. The letter will serve as basis for the CLO to take action against the supplier.
R. Espenelli, represented by Bert Herbolario of Bacolod City, got the P675,000 contract for the purchase of the firearms.