PNP commissions 500 new vehicles

By Ronron
March 17, 2008

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday morning commissioned 500 new vehicles that were purchased under its 2007 Procurement Program.

PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. said the new mobile assets, which consist of 100 prowl cars, 266 police utility vehicles, and 145 motorcycles, is in addition to the existing 8,000 land vehicles of the organization.

Aside from the 500 vehicles, Razon also commissioned three newly-refurbished V150 armored tactical fighting vehicles.

Razon presented all said vehicles to Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno in simple ceremonies at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

“These added logistics will ensure that the PNP will be more capable and effective in performing the mission to serve and protect the people,” Razon said.

Razon said that prior to the commissioning of the 500 new vehicles, there are 202 police stations all over the country that have no police vehicles.

“Now, there will no longer be any police station that has no mobile service,” he said.

For 2008, Razon said the PNP will acquire three helicopters, 211 patrol cars, 526 utility vehicles, 295 motorcycles, 1,000 shotguns, 10,000 handguns, and special equipment for anti-criminality and internal security operations.

Razon said Malacañang has approved the PNP’s P10-billion modernization program for logistics and recruitment, in addition to the separate P1.7-billion fund for housing and infrastructure development earlier approved by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“The PNP leadership is pushing more resources and logistics to the field to meet the operational requirements of police units and personnel to develop all police stations in the country into fighting units against criminality, insurgency and terrorism,” PNP spokesman Sr. Supt. Nicanor Bartolome said./DMS