Razon, others plead not guilty to graft raps

Former PNP Chief Avelino Razon Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA—Former Philippine National Police chief Avelino Razon Jr. and 16 other dismissed and active-duty police officials as well as civilians pleaded not guilty to graft and malversation charges at the Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division Thursday morning.

Through counsel Maria Nympha Mandagan, Razon maintained his innocence of the charges before the anti-graft court’s Justices Alex Quiroz, Maria Cristina Cornejo and Oscar Herrera, Jr.

Razon, who already posted bail for four counts of graft, is still detained because of malversation in connection with alleged fictitious repair and maintenance of 28 V-150 PNP light armored vehicles at a cost of P358.58 million in 2007.

Mandagan has filed a supplemental motion to post bail with leave of court for Razon on the malversation charges, saying her client was not a flight risk.

Mandagan said Razon was on medication for diabetes, has already surrendered his passport to the court, has his family in the Philippines, and believes in the criminal justice system.

The court set a pre-trial conference on Oct. 14.