Invoke 'national security' for police negotiated

The National Police was equipped with a new "luxury transportation" to patrol the streets of the country. It is 4Weels motorcycles, a system that until now was used by the SPI and SINAPROC, but simpler versions.

In social networks, the National Police promotes Honda brand motorcycles, Pioneer model, as a way to integrate with the population, referring to trips with children and other beach activities.

The bikes purchased from the National Police, through the Ministry of Security, are perhaps the most expensive on the market model, whi8ch price is similar or exceeds a car that could provide greater security police units: 18,500 dollars. Virtually they are recognized as beach bikes.

However, in the PanamáCompra website there is no record of the transaction, which is confirmed by the Ministry of Security obviated the catalog that requires public institutions to buy the cheapest item on the market.

Official sources reported that it was a direct purchase outside the mechanism of procurements in which they have invoked the concept of "national security".

However, the source claims that a purchase of bikes like this does not apply to "national security" because it is not weapons or special equipment to combat drug trafficking.

Under the principle of national security, the government can hide how much you spent and how many bikes were acquired. But there are elements that negotiated track that was forged between the National Police and the Ministry of Security.

Currently in catalog PanamáCompra there are seven companies that offer the kind of bike that bought the National Police, including: CRM International Holding, Moto Style, Suki Motors, MPH Moto Parts, Auto Chrome Motors Corporation and Dixie Bay.

Only one of the surveyed companies said selling exclusive brand Honda motorcycles, specifically the Pioneer model: Bay Motors linked to Stanley Motta, the main donor campaign of President Juan Carlos Varela.

Bay Motors reported that four passengers Pioneer 2015 model will cost 18 thousand 500 dollars, but the 2016 version increased to 22 thousand 500 dollars.

If the National Police and the Ministry of Security had used PanamáCompra catalog, Bay Motors would have been out of competition on price.

For example, Moto Style has a similar bike brand CF Motors which costs between $8,500 and $ 12,000.

In that same range they were quoted other businesses.

The public procurement Law 22 states in Article 46 that "state bodies should consult the electronic catalog of products and services, prior to calling a contractor selection act or request except public act, and verify if the products or services required by the institution are or are not included in this catalog, except in situations of force majeure duly verified".

After that, the Public Procurement Directorate warned last year that found inconsistencies in various purchase orders registered in the system.

 Eduardo Corro, director-general of Public Procurement, called reminding all legal directors and purchasing managers of public entities obliged to consult the electronic catalog of products and services.

"It is not possible to warn state entities that do not follow the standard described above. Failure to take appropriate measures, in terms of processing purchase orders without proper authorization from this direction, we will apply the corresponding sanctions" said Corro.

However, the sanctions established in the Law 22 are very weak, as the Director of Public Procurement may impose fines only for the equivalent of 1% of gross wages earned by public officials who violate the principles and rules of public procurement .

---

Cifras

19 meses de gobierno lleva la administración de Juan Carlos Varela, en medio de escándalos.

18,500 es el valor individual de las motos que compró la Policía Nacional.