Procurement Process in Military Logistics: A Question of Public Accountability

Abstract

Several allegations of misconduct against senior military officials recently surfaced and so it was deemed necessary' by the author to tackle the issue of organizational and administrative irregularities in the military service. The paper opted to review the procurement process of the military' and why it has allegedly become a source of bureaucratic corruption. These irregularities takes away essential banding for the needs of the soldiers in the field. In light of the never ending wars fought by the military' against the insurgent separatists in the south and up in the mountains. Two units pre-selected from the military were surveyed to measure the general perceptions and opinions about the military organization. Questions were asked about their experiences in the military including possible irregular transactions. Several informants were also interviewed for an in-depth look into the processes in the military. Topics discussed were about the procurement process, logistic systems, personal opinions on contempory military issues, perceptions on the alleged discrepancies and irregularities in the service. This research paper evaluated the systems of public accountability enforced within the military organization. It is vital to the existence and performance of government to have institutionalized systems of accountability. This ensures that public trust is integral in the dealings of the military. Examinations of such discrepancies were also discussed to have a concrete study on the dealings of the organization. Recommendations will also be made in order to further improve the processes in the procurement system and instill a sense of accountability to the Filipino people.