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Aquino stops helicopter deals
MANILA - PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino has blocked the purchase of nine military helicopters worth nearly US$93 million (S$122 million) after allegations of corruption, military spokesmen said on Tuesday.
The Filipino navy and air force both rejected the allegations of collusion to favour a particular supplier of the seven air force attack helicopters and two navy helicopters saying the correct process had been followed.
However the military deferred to Aquino's decision to review the contracts, according to navy Lieutenant-Colonel Edgard Arevalo and air force Lt Col Miguel Ernesto Ocol.
'It's not possible to rig that (process) to cater to anybody's requirement,' Lt Ocol insisted.
He said the specifications for the 3.2 billion pesos (S$96 million) air force contract, which was awarded to Polish firm PZL Swidnik on September 9, were based on Philippine military flight requirements.
'When you come up with that circular of requirements you look at it based on doctrine and based on actual operational use,' Lt Ocol told reporters. -- AFP
Aquino stops helicopter deals