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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider House says BFP bididng for P1.5-B fire trucks 'tainted', seeks suspension 

House says BFP bididng for P1.5-B fire trucks 'tainted', seeks suspension 

Published Dec 7, 2023 01:21 am

At A Glance

  • The House of Representatives has asked the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to suspend its bidding for 120 fire trucks worth P1.5 billion on the suspicion that the bidding process is "tainted". 

IMG-90cb825565abea8e88487448a9044386-V.jpgHouse of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

The House of Representatives has asked the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to suspend its bidding for 120 fire trucks worth P1.5 billion on the suspicion that the bidding process is "tainted".

This, after it was learned that the head of the technical working group (TWG) of the agency’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) had bought a sport utility vehicle (SUV) registered after one of the BFP’s previous frequent winning bidder for the procurement of fire trucks for several years.

Currently in hot water is the TWG head, Fire Supt. Jan Garry Lunas, who confessed to buying a Toyota Fortuner registered to the employee of F. Cura Industries.

“Ang aming request dun wag na muna nila ituloy [‘yung bidding]. Ayusin muna nila ‘yung process ng bidding nila ulit kasi nga, dahil nga tainted na iyon, compromised na iyong decision doon dahil chairman siya (Lunas), so they have to review it,” said Santa Rosa lone district Rep. Dan Fernandez, who chairs the Committee on Public Order and Safety.

(Our request is to halt the bidding for now. They should first fix their bidding process since it's tainted and compromised because he's the chairman.)

As per BFP’s bidding documents, the opening of bids for the procurement of 120 fire trucks are scheduled on Dec. 4, Dec. 11 and Dec. 12.

During the hearing at the House of Representatives into the “restrictive” and “questionable” bidding process of BFP for fire truck procurement on Tuesday, Dec. 5, prospective bidders surfaced a video that would indicate possible collusion involving Lunas.

Ronald Canete, the private investigator who took the video, appeared and testified that based on their investigation, Lunas was personally using the SUV registered under the name of an employee of F. Cura Industries.

“Hindi naman niya dinedeny and at the same time, parang minomonthly niya (He's not denying it andat the same time, it seems like a monthly thing),” Fernandez said of Lunas.

Fernandez asked Lunas whether he considered his vehicle purchase as improper or immoral.

Lunas replied that he saw nothing wrong with the transaction. However, he cannot provide details of the purchase such as the vehicle price.

As a result, Fernandez said that the House committee has asked to replace Lunas as head of BFP’s TWG.

“So, the reason why we were asking for his removal kasi nga naco-compromise ‘yung kanilang decision bilang siya yung [TWG] chairman sa bidding process,” he added.

(It's because their decision is being compromised due to his being the TWG chairman in the bidding process.)

In response, BFP Chief Louie Puracan said they will conduct a separate inquiry regarding the controversy involving Lunas.

Under Section 32 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Republic Act (RA) No.9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act, “[m]embers of the BAC, its staff and personnel, Secretariat and TWG, as well as Observers, are prohibited from making or accepting any communication with any bidder regarding the evaluation of their bids until the issuance of the Notice of Award."

Related Tags

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