Ka Leody: Admin charges can be filed vs PNP chief over questionable use of gov’t chopper

Presidential candidate Leody de Guzman (Photo from his Facebook page)

MANILA, Philippines — For labor leader Leody de Guzman, the admission of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos that he requested an “admin flight” so a police helicopter could fetch him from Balesin Island after spending “private time” could be enough grounds to file administrative charges against the police general.

“Sapat-sapat ‘yung pag-amin ni PNP Chief Dionardo Carlos na sinundo siya mula sa kanyang RnR (rest and recreation) gamit ang opisyal na sasakyan ng gobyerno para sa administrative charges,” de Guzman said in a statement.

(PNP Chief Dionardo Carlos’ admission that he was supposed to be picked up from his RnR using an official government vehicle is enough for administrative charges.)

On Tuesday, Carlos admitted spending “private time” in Balesin Island and that the PNP’s H125 Airbus helicopter was supposed to fetch him from the exclusive, members-only, world-class recreational destination.

The police chopper, however, crashed in Quezon province while on its way to Balesin Island on Monday morning, killing a police patrolman and wounding two other police officers.

Carlos earlier said he requested for an “admin flight” so he could return to the PNP Headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, on Monday morning because his private transport would only be available at a later time.

READ: PNP chief confirms crashed chopper bound for Balesin to fetch him after ‘private time’

“The flight directive was allowed and issued following PNP rules and regulations,” Carlos said on Tuesday.

With this incident, de Guzman called for further investigation to find out if there are other occasions when government assets are being used for personal gains – which he asserted is illegal.

“Dapat din imbestigahan kung may katulad na mga pag-aabuso at iligal na paggamit ng mga sasakyan, pasilidad at iba pang resources ng gobyerno para sa sariling pakinabang,” he said.

(It should also be investigated if there are other abuses and illegal use of vehicles, facilities, and other government resources for personal gains.)

“Maling-mali ito. Ginagamit nila ang resources ng pamahalaan pati sa kanilang mga personal na kapritso at the expense of people’s hard-earned taxes at kahit pa isakripisyo ang buhay at kaligtasan ng kanilang mga subordinate,” he also said.

(This is wrong. They are using government resources for their personal whim at the expense of people’s hard-earned taxes and the sacrifice of the lives and safety of their subordinates.)

Malacañang recently said that an investigation on the chopper crash is underway.

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