Senators are poised to question the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) over the alleged procurement of luxury vehicles for its officials.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said since it is budget season, they will grill the PCG officials in the Senate budget hearing on the command’s proposed appropriations for 2024.
On the other hand, Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, gave assurance they will scrutinize the national budget.
He said the PCG should know the administrative issuances and government policies regarding the purchase of vehicles.
He pointed out that the matter was the job of PCG lawyers and legal officers.
Earlier, the Commission on Audit (COA) flagged the PCG on the purchase of a P7.8-million bulletproof sport utility vehicle (SUV) for its commandant.
The PCG reportedly bought the vehicle- a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado- for P5 million and spent another P2.8 million to make it bulletproof.
The COA noted there was a violation of the government ban on the purchase and use of luxury vehicles.
The PCG insisted, however, that the money used to buy the questioned vehicle “came from rebates from an oil company.
The COA also asserted that this was not approved by the DBM, aside from the absence of justification because of the many vehicles procured by the PCG.
The PCG has 459 service vehicles and 31 brand new service vehicles, also ostensibly bought with rebates money from an oil company.
But the PCG argued that the luxury vehicles were bought for the safety and security of their commandant. They got other vehicles using rebates from fuel, oil, and lubricants because their activated units and workforce continue to grow bigger.
The COA maintained however that there was a violation of the government ban on the purchase and use of luxury vehicles.