Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Sen. Teofisto “TG” Guingona III yesterday called on officials of the Department of National Defense (DND) to respond to the allegations of irregularity in connection with the government’s procurement of 21 refurbished UH-1 helicopters.
Guingona said the testimony of whistleblower Rhodora Alvarez against key Defense officials was “serious and potentially damaging allegations.”
Alvarez had earlier told senators that Defense officials allegedly “tailor-fitted” the terms of reference for the helicopter purchase to help Rice Aircraft Services, Inc. (RASI) bag the contract for the supply of the helicopters.
“I am giving DND officials and executives of RASI ample opportunity to refute the allegations hurled against them in the Alvarez affidavit,” Guingona said in a statement.
He cited in particular the allegations based on email exchanges between Alvarez and DND officials. These include the email to Alvarez, allegedly sent by Technical Working Group chairman Brig. Gen. Conrado Parra where he supposedly discussed issues on delivery and payment schemes.
In that email, Parra allegedly said, “I don’t think they will allow that but still this can be discussed in the negotiations.”
Alvarez was quoted as saying to Parra: “I just don’t know how far they can go in bending rules.”
Alvarez also alleged that Parra had another exchange of email with the original RASI representative, Thac Nuyen.
Here they discussed how RASI can be considered qualified to deliver the purchased helicopters.
Alvarez also linked DND Undersecretary Fernando Manalo and Assistant Secretary Patrick Velez to the alleged exchange of emails.
Guingona said he has already given all concerned parties copies of the Alvarez affidavit and hopes to “get to the bottom of the issue” at the soonest time possible.
He warned that the committee “will hold parties accountable if the alleged ‘tailor-fitting’ is proven true.”
MANILA BULLETIN
