PCG PRESS STATEMENT

15 October 2024

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) issues this statement in response to an unauthored articles published by several news websites yesterday, 14 October 2024, implicating PCG senior officers in the bidding for the procurement of 9mm caliber pistols for the organization.

To shed light on the malicious, irresponsible, and sensationalized publication, the PCG sets forth the truth on following facts:

1. There is a project for the procurement of 9mm caliber pistols for the PCG;

2.That the Korean firm, Dasan Machineries Co., Ltd. by virtue of a joint venture, was one of the participating bidders for the said project;

3. That Dasan Machineries Co., Ltd. and its JV partner was disqualified in the bidding due to questionable and false statements made in its bid documents;

4. There is no truth in the claim of Dasan Machineries Co., Ltd. and as published by several news websites that the pistols are the same type of pistols that will be supplied to the PCG by the winning bidder;

5. There is no truth in the claim of Dasan Machineries Co., Ltd. that the PCG procured overpriced 9mm caliber pistols; and

6. There is no truth in the claim of Dasan Machineries Co., Ltd. that the procurement of the project was grossly disadvantageous to the government.

Furthermore, the PCG also clarified that the media organizations and journalists behind the said news websites had neither contacted the former to verify any of the allegations made in the assailed article, and that its information are based solely upon the claims of a disqualified bidder of the project.

The PCG assures the public that in the performance of its duties, specifically in the supply of essential weapons to its personnel, that it carefully considers the overall qualifications, competence, and performance of bidders, as well as goods and services that the latter will provide through a transparent, fair, and judicious procurement process consistent with existing government rules and regulations.

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