Ex-PNP chief Razon surrenders

MANILA, Philippines – Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Avelino Razon Jr surrendered at the Sandiganbayan Wednesday afternoon, August 28, after the graft court ordered his arrest earlier.

The surrender is connected to a case of alleged anomalous transactions during his time as PNP head.

Besides Razon, 32 others were ordered arrested for graft and malversation charges. The others who surrendered to the court aside from Razon were: Eliseo dela Paz, Geary Barias, Reynaldo Varilla, Charlemagne alejandrino, Emmanuel Ojeda, Reuel Labrado, Alex Barrameda, Nancy Basallo, Patricia Enaje, and Maria Teresa Narcise

The warrants were based on a criminal case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman on July 11 over the anomalous repair and maintenance of several light armored vehicles (LAVs) in 2007.

READ: Graft charges vs ex-PNP chief Razon, others affirmed

Razon’s co-accused are former and incumbent PNP officials and several private individuals, including two former Philippine National Police comptrollers: Geary Barias and Eliseo de la Paz.

The Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices found that after assuming the top PNP post, Razon requested on Aug 14, 2007  for a budget to supplement what had already been requested by his predecessor — then PNP Chief Director General Oscar Calderon.

Calderon had requested P275.37 million for 10 units of V-150 LAVs for the PNP Special Action Force. But Razon asked for an additional budget to repair and refurbish 18 more LAVs, resulting in an amount that ballooned to more than P400 million.

The complaint filed 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.” – Rappler.com