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The Philippine National Police (PNP)
will soon have its air assets with the purchase of two helicopters for
anti-criminality and internal security operations.
PNP Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela
Rosa said the choppers will be very useful for the police in running after
criminals and implementing security in big events such as the recently held
Black Nazarene procession.
“I am very excited of this because
you know, I suddenly felt the need to have helicopters during the Traslacion
wherein we have no exact real-time situation to assess it from the top,” said
Dela Rosa.
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The PNP Chief said Senators JV
Ejercito and Ralph Recto are aggressively pushing for the purchase of two brand
new helicopters possibly within the year as a way of improving the operational
capability of the police.
“The procurement was already
inserted in the budget. Hopefully we can buy helicopters this year,” said Dela
Rosa.
The PNP, through the Special Action
Force, has its own pool of pilots capable of flying helicopters.
Asked if the PNP would be buying
second-hand helicopters, Dela Rosa joked: “Do you want me to go to jail?”
The joke refers to the PNP’s
purchase of three multi-million-peso helicopters during the time of President
Gloria Arroyo, which courted controversy after it was alleged that two of the
choppers were bought for the price of a brand new model even if they had
already clocked flying hours.
Several police officials and others
involved, led by former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, were charged in connection
with the alleged anomalous transaction.
The two choppers were never put to
use and used as evidence on the case filed before the Sandiganbayan.
Dela Rosa said the choppers are now
beyond repair when recently inspected.
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