The Philippine National Police (PNP) has signed several contracts with Israel's Ministry of Defense for the procurement of guns and intelligence systems to boost the police force's operational capabilities, it announced Wednesday.
PNP chief, Police General Debold Sinas said the procurement contracts were sealed through a Government to Government (G2G) transaction with Brig. Gen (Ret) Yair Kulas, Director of the International Defense Cooperation Directorate of the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD-SIBAT).
The procurement contracts were signed for the supply and delivery of 13,457 units of 5.56mm basic assault rifles; 20 units of 7.62mm light machine guns; and an intelligence component of the PNP Secure, Mobile, Artificial – Intelligence Driven, Real-time (SMART) Policing Program.
Although Sinas did not disclose how much were the sealed contracts, he said they were able to get the items at a much lower price, enabling them to save around P108 million.
Under the contracts, the PNP closed the procurement deal for the basic assault rifles which would cost them P35,280 per unit.
Sinas said it is much cheaper than the P42,000 to P87,000 price per unit of the same quality of items that the PNP procured from 2017 to 2019 through public bidding.
"We have pledged to the President that the PNP will not allow corruption under my leadership. We will be transparent with our transactions and will use our taxpayers' money wisely," Sinas said.
He noted that the signing of the contracts was "a clear manifestation" of the PNP's commitment to further equip its personnel with increased capability while working with Israel, a world-renowed producer of high-quality firearms and other defense equipment.
The PNP has yet to bare when the guns and intelligence systems will be delivered.