In the middle of an audit of the Comptroller General of Accounts (CGC), he Ministry of the Interior (Mingob)through the General Subdirectorate of Technology of the National Civil Police (PNC), confirmed the acquisition of five thousand portable radios by Q62.7 million.
During an inspection summons, deputy José Chic questioned the price of the equipment and raised a possible surcharge of up to Q31 millionby ensuring that the awarded values exceed the market prices that, according to a survey carried out by its team, those same models have.
The Deputy Director of Technology of the PNC, Hector Tale, He stated that, before the tender, a market study was carried out and quotes were requested to define the technical specifications that responded to the operational needs of the institution.
He added that the Support and Logistics Unit was in charge of developing the administrative process and that the award was in charge of the corresponding board.
However, Chic questioned whether the acquisition will represent a true technological advance for the PNC, maintaining that criminal structures have more advanced equipment and systems.
Tale detailed that five thousand portable radios were acquired, distributed as follows:
- Four thousand radios with screen, awarded for Q51 million 80 thousand, with a unit price of Q12 thousand 760.
- One thousand radios without screen, awarded for Q11 million 660 thousand, with a unit price of Q11 thousand 660.
Together, both awards add Q62 million 740 thousand.
According to the Guatecompras Operation Number (NOG) 26834545the contract was awarded to Tactical Group. According to a review of Guatecompras records, the company is among the main suppliers of the Ministry of the Interior and during this year it has accumulated seven awards.
When asked about the price difference between both models, Tale indicated that the main variation is that one of the devices includes a screen and an additional battery. He added that the objective is for each operational unit to have a radio and a lapel microphone.
Meanwhile, Nery de León, director of Attention to Complaints from the Comptroller General of Accounts (CGC), reported that the contract is already the subject of an audit, which records approximately 40% progress. De León explained that the review arose from monitoring early warning events.
The congressman assured that a survey and the review of other awards reflect that a radio with a screen has a market price of Q6 thousand 282.71, with taxes included, while the model without screen costs Q5 thousand 734.63, also with taxes.
“PNC awarded them Q11,660, double that,” the legislator questioned.
In the same citation, the Vice Minister of Security of the Ministry of the Interior, José Rolando Portilloconfirmed that this agency is also seeking to acquire radios, although it acknowledged that the process did not advance and that, so far, the contest has not been restarted.
Portillo explained that initially the purchase of seven thousand 990 radios, but the event was canceled because the commission in charge of the process did not correctly estimate the deadlines. He added that these equipment would be financed with resources from a loan.
Since 2020, Guatemala has US$300 million to strengthen the infrastructure and equipment of justice sector institutions through a loan from Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI). However, some acquisitions planned with these resources, such as the purchase of radios, have not registered significant progress.
During the summons it was also stated that, in that first process promoted by the Vice Ministry of Security, the same bidders participated. Tactical Group and PBS, SA.
Deputy Chic also questioned whether the Ministry of the Interior intends to acquire, between both processes, 14 thousand spokes.
“The ideal, in the technological field, is that each element has its terminal equipment as part of its team. We are 42 thousand police officers and the ideal is that each police officer has its terminal equipment,” Tale replied.
According to the official, there is already a distribution contemplated in order to optimize these resources and “replace a technology that has been used since 2014 and is already obsolete.”
However, Chic questioned the impact of the purchase in terms of technological modernization and stated that, in its opinion, “criminals have starlinkclosed circuit system and the best phones on the market”.
The deputy asked what the difference is between the radios acquired in 2014 and those that the PNC now intends to buy.
Tale responded that the new equipment has better production standards and greater robustness. Furthermore, he explained that the main technological difference is that the institution will go from using analog communications to digital communications.
Points out possible overvaluation
“I hope I am wrong for the good of the institution, but we could be talking about an overvaluation of Q31 million. That is why we will ask that the Inspectorate, the National Commission against Corruption and the Comptroller’s Office review the case and deduce responsibilities. It would not be anything new; the same thing happened with the mattresses,” said Chic.
The legislator added that, from the commission, the Probity Unit review the award procedure and determine if there was a possible overprice, in order to establish the corresponding measures.
According to the Comptroller General of Accounts, The audit currently underway could conclude in approximately three weeks.