The Philippine Department of National Defence (DND) has deferred the award of a PHP3.2bn ($730mm) contract for seven attack helicopters for the air force due to anomalies in the deal.
Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin called off the submission of bids and ordered a 30-day probe into the air force helicopter contract won by PZL Swidnik.
The five other bidders, including Boeing, Asia Aerospace / MD Helicopter, Eurocopter, Elbit System / Joavi Philippines and the Government of the Russian Federation have withdrawn from the public bidding.
The actions of the bids and awards committee will be dictated by decisions of the secretary of national defence, depending on the results of the inquiry and the recommendations of the boards.
The bidding for PHP851m ($19m) contract for two Navy multirole helicopters has also been deferred by the DND.
