THE SUPREME Court has found a national police official liable for his part in irregularities in a 2008 transaction for the purchase of second-hand light helicopters.
In a decision promulgated March 28 and uploaded online May 19, the high court denied the petition filed by former director of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Legal Services Herold Ubalde who was also a member of the PNP National Headquarters Bids and Awards Committee (NH-BAC).
The tribunal found Ubalde guilty of grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and ordered him dismissed from the service in connection with the implementation of the PHP105 million contract in the PNP’s 2008 annual procurement plan for the purchase of three light police helicopters (LPOH).
The helicopters were meant to provide air support for Special Action Force operations in Sulu at the time.
After two failed biddings, the NHQ-BAC recommended that the procurement of the choppers be made through a negotiation with a local firm, the Manila Aerospace Products Trading (Maptra).
The units, R44 Raven 1 LPOHs, were delivered and conformed with most of the required specifications.
The Ombudsman, however, found that the Maptra sole proprietorship did not comply with the eligibility requirements, noting that the firm’s only similar contract with the PNP was for the delivery of one aircraft in 2007 worth PHP15.3 million.
The Ombudsman also said the firm did not submit a commitment from a licensed bank extending to it a credit line and cash deposit certificate in the amount of at least 10 percent of the approved budget for the contract.
“In the present case, this Court is convinced that there is substantial evidence to hold Ubalde administratively liable for his acts relating to the purchase of the LPOHs by the PNP,” the SC said. (Benjamin Pulta)
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