‘New resolution changes rules’

A draft document obtained by The STAR — Resolution 2003-20, yet unsigned and undated, by the Napolcom Uniform and Equipment Standardization Board — seeks to amend the 1995 approved specifications for caliber .45 1911 pistols.

Some gun dealers argue that the proposed new resolution answers the challenge of the Arms Corporation of the Philippines (Armscor) to validate their complaint of the PNP’s plan to "change the rules to favor the company owned by Mike Arroyo’s first cousin."

Among the changes in the specifications for .45 caliber pistols which the new resolution calls for are: a combat trigger with serration, double slide serration, an ambidextrous safety lever, a wide beaver griptail safety, a dovetail front sight, a Novak rear sight, a skeletonized hammer with combat serrated hole, an extended slide stop release and serrated hand grip.

All these changes, they claim, are features presently found on the Armscor 1911-A1 pistol and not on a standard .45 caliber pistol, both local and imported, based on the 1995 specs, being offered by other dealers. A sales poster of Armscor’s pistol detailing these features was also obtained by the STAR for reference. "If this resolution is signed within the week, as our sources in the PNP tell us, then Armscor automatically prequalifies for the P100 million bidding, while others have to add-on these new features to their guns to pre-qualify," stated a gun dealer, who requested anonymity for fear of being blacklisted by the PNP.

"If this isn’t tailoring specs to favor Armscor, then I don’t know what is it," he added.

Reacting to the statement of Colonel Dizon, the head of the PNP Directorate for Research and Development, said that he was unaware of the Armscor pistol failing in evaluation testing, the gun dealer said three dealers were at Camp Crame and witnessed along with government representatives the testing and knew the results.

They claimed the tests were conducted on Oct. 28-30 and Nov. 3 and 4 this year and alleged that the ambi safety of the Armscor pistol broke during the drop test, and after continuously jamming stopped firing at 3,000 rounds when the minimum for an endurance test is 5,000 rounds.

STAR’s interview with DRD personnel the other day confirmed the testing and the results. — Francis Lagniton