MANILA, Philippines – Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Avelino Razon Jr and 22 other police officers and private individuals will face criminal charges for the anomalous repair and maintenance of light armored vehicles worth over P400 million.

The charges stemmed from the August 2007 request of then PNP chief Oscar Calderon for the repair and refurbishing of 10 V-150s of the PNP’s Special Action Force with a budget of P275.37 million. His successor, Razon, subsequently asked for an additional budget for the repair of the remaining 18 V-150s.

The Fact-Finding Investigation Bureau of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices (FFIB-MOLEO) alleged there were irregularities in the bidding process up to the awarding of contracts for the repair of the vehicles.

Specifically, those being charged were found to have “circumvented the provisions of RA 9184 to take private firms Serpenair, Enviro-Aire, Evans, RJP, Dex-Lan and RKGK Enterprises as the direct suppliers.” This resulted in losses of P409.7 million from the irregular bidding process.

Anti-graft

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales ordered the filing of charges against Razon and several others. They were found to have violated Sec 3(e) of RA 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act); Sec 65 (b) (4) of RA 9184 (The Government Procurement Reform Act); and Art 217 in relation to Art. 171 (par 4) of the Revised Penal Code (Malversation through Falsification).

In a 108-page joint resolution, Morales ordered the following charged for violations of Sec 3(e) of RA 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act); Sec 65 (b) (4) of RA 9184 (The Government Procurement Reform Act); and Art 217 in relation to Art 171 (par 4) of the Revised Penal Code (Malversation through Falsification) for the repair and maintenance of 18 V-150s:

• Avelino Razon Jr
• Teodorido Lapuz IV
• Emmanuel Ojeda
• Reuel Leverne Labrado
• Annalee Forro
• Edgar Paatan
• Henry Duque
• Victor Puddao (all 8 above are members of the Logistics Supports Services – Bids and Awards Committee)
• Josefina Dumanew, purchasing officer
• Antonio Retrato, chief of Accounting Division
• Warlito Tubon, Inspection Officer, LSS
• Alfredo Lavina, supply officer
• Eliseo dela Paz, former comptroller
• Eulito Fuentes, Supply Accountable Officer
• Rainier Espina, acting chief, PNP Management Division
• Patricia Enaje, Property Inspector
• Businessman Harold Ong
• Tyrone Ong
• Pamela Pensotes
• Evangeline Bais
• Artemio Zuniga

Also ordered charged for the same violations were Razon, Reynaldo Varilla, Charlemagne Alejandrino, Lapuz, Ojeda, Labrado, Forro, Paatan, Puddao, Dumanew, Retrato, Tubon, Lavina, Barias, Barrameda, Fuentes, Espina, property inspector Nancy Basallo, Harold and Tyrone Ong, Pensotes, Bais, and Zuniga over the repair and maintenance of an additional 10 V-150s.

The Ombudsman also charged the same police officers, as well as former comptroller Geary Barias, property inspector Alex Barameda and Oscar Madamba over the purchase of 40 tires.

Dismissal

Morales also ordered the dismissal from government service or the alternative penalty of a fine equivalent to one year’s salary (if dismissal can no longer be served) of Forro, Paatan, Duque, Dumanew, Barrameda, Espina, Enaje, Basallo and Commission on Audit (COA) supervising auditor Jaime Serrano.

The Ombudsman also said all the benefits of the same persons will be forfeited and that they would be perpetually disqualified from holding public office.

COA Technical Audit specialist Amor Quiambao was slapped with a 6-month suspension without pay.

Lapuz, Ojeda, Labrado, Forro, Paatan, Puddao, Dumanew, Retrato, dela Paz, Espina, Enaje, Basallo, Lavina, and private persons Gigie Marpa, Marianne Jimenez, Rasita Zaballero, and Carmencita Salvador were ordered charged with the same offenses in relation to the disbursement and expenditure of the PNP’s transportation and delivery expenses corresponding to its V-150 light armored vehicles. – Rappler.com