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MANILA, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday, July 11, filed criminal charges before the Sandiganbayan against retired Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Avelino Razon Jr and 31 others over the anomalous repair and maitenance of several light armored vehicles (LAVs) in 2007.
In a 68-page Joint Order, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales dismissed the motions for reconsideration and reinvestigation filed by the respondents. The joint resolution finding probable cause to indict them was issued on December 28, 2012.
Razon’s co-accused are former and incumbent PNP officials and several private individuals.
The Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices established that Razon, upon assuming the top PNP post, requested for a budget to supplement what had already been requested by his predecessor, PNP Chief Dir Gen Oscar Calderon, on August 14, 2007.
Calderon had requested P275.37 million for 10 units of V-150 LAVs for the PNP Special Action Force. When Razon took over, he requested additional budget to repair and refurbish 18 more LAVs. This caused the total amount to balloon to more than P400 million.
The complaint alleged irregularity in the “bidding process, awarding of contracts and utilization of funds intended for the repair/refurbishment of 28 V-150s of the PNP.”
The respondents were charged for graft and for malversation through falsification over any or all of 4 acts: purchase of 40 tires for the LAVs; anomalous repair and maintenance of the 10 initial V-150 LAVs; the repair and maintenance of another 18 V-150 LAVs; and the disbursement of PNP funds originally allotted for transportation and delivery expenses.
Charged were:
- Razon
- Geary Barias, former Director for Comptrollership
- Teodorido Lapuz IV, acting director for Logistics Support Services (LSS)
- Emmanuel Ojeda, member of the LSS–Bids and Awards Committee (LSS-BAC)
- Reuel Leverne Labrado, member, LSS-BAC
- Annalee Forro, member, LSS-BAC
- Henry Duque, member, LSS-BAC
- Victor Puddao, member, LSS-BAC
- Josefina Dumanew, purchasing officer
- Antonio Retrato, chief accountant
- Warlito Tubon, inspection officer
- Alex Barrameda, property Inspector
- Eulito Fuentes, supply accountable officer
- Rainier Espina, acting chief, PNP Management Division
- Reynaldo Varilla, National Headquarters (NHQ)-BAC
- Charlemagne Alejandrino, NHQ-BAC
- Edgar Paatan, Responsible Supply Police Non-Commissioned Officer of the LSS
- Nancy Basallo, property inspector
- Maria Teresa Narcise, property inspector
- Eliseo dela Paz, former Director for Comptrollership
- Victor Agarcio, chief of Transportation and Maintenance Division
- Property inspector Patricia Enaje
- Private individual Oscar Madamba
- Private individual Harold Ong
- Private individual Tyrone Ong
- Private individual Pamela Pensotes
- Private individual Evangeline Bais
- Private individual Artemio Zuñiga
- Private individual Gigie Marpa
- Private individual Marianne Jimenez
- Private individual Rasita Zaballero
- Private individual Carmencita Salvador.
The motions for reconsideration and reinvestigation of Retrato, Tubon, Barias, Barrameda, Fuentes, Espina, Narcise, Dela Paz, Agarcio, Enaje, Basallo, and Laviña were partially granted. They were not found to have violated the Government Procurement Reform Act because they “were not involved in the conduct of bidding and award of contracts.” – Rappler.com
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