Razon, 22 others face raps over questionable vehicle repair

Former Philippine National Police chief Avelino Razon Jr.

MANILA, Philippines—Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales on Friday ordered the filing of criminal case against former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Avelino Razon Jr. and 22 others before the Sandiganbayan for the questionable repair and maintenance of 28 units of V-150 PNP Light Armored Vehicles (LAVs) for more than P400 million in 2007.

In a 108-page Joint Resolution, Morales ordered the filing of four counts of violations of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act; RA 9184 or The Government Procurement Reform Act; and violation of the Revised Penal Code for Malversation through Falsification in relation to the purchase of 40 tires by the PNP against the former PNP chief and 22 persons.

The 22 persons facing criminal case are: Teodorido Lapuz IV, Emmanuel Ojeda, Reuel Leverne Labrado, Annalee Forro, Edgar Paatan, Henry Duque and Victor Puddao, all member of the Logistics Supports Services – Bids and Awards Committee (LSS-BAC);

Josefina Dumanew, Purchasing Officer; Antonio Retrato , Chief, Accounting Division; Warlito Tubon, Inspection Officer, (LSS); Geary Barias, former Director for Comptrollership; Alex Barameda, Property Inspector; Eulito Fuentes, Supply Accountable Officer; Rainier Espina, Acting Chief, PNP Management Division, all of the PNP; and private individual Oscar Madamba.

The Ombudsman also ordered the filing of the same case against Razon, Lapuz, Ojeda, Labrado, Forro, Paatan, Puddao, Dumanew, Retrato, Tubon, Alfredo Lavina, Responsible Supply Police Non-Commissioned Officer of the LSS; Property Inspectors Maria Teresa Narcise and Patricia Enaje; former Director for Comptrollership Eliseo dela Paz; Fuentes, Victor Agarcio, Chief, TMD,LSS; Espina, Acting Chief Management Division and private individuals Harold Ong, Tyrone Ong, Pamela Pensotes, Evangeline Bais, and Artemio Zuniga for the repair and maintenance of the PNP’s 18 V-150 LAVs.

Also ordered charged for the repair and maintenance of another 10 V-150 LAV were Razon; Reynaldo Varilla and Charlemagne Alejandrino, both of the NHQ-BAC; Lapuz, Ojeda, Labrado, Forro, Paatan, Puddao, Dumanew, Retrato, Tubon, Lavina, Barias, Barrameda, Fuentes, Espina, NUP Nancy Basallo, Property Inspector; Harold and Tyrone Ong, Pensotes, Bais and Zuniga.

On the other hand, Lapuz, Ojeda, Labrado, Forro, Paatan, Puddao, Dumanew, Retrato, dela Paz, Espina, Enaje, Basallo, Lavina, and private individuals Gigie Marpa, Marianne Jimenez, Rasita Zaballero, and Carmencita Salvador were charged with graft, malversation and falsification and violation of the Procurement act for the disbursement and expenditure of the PNP’s transportation and delivery expenses corresponding to its V-150 Light Armored Vehicles.

Meanwhile, the Ombudsman also dismissed from government service or payment of fine equivalent to one year salary (if penalty of dismissal can no longer be served)  Forro, Paatan, Duque, Dumanew, Barrameda,Espina, Enaje, Narcisem Basallo and Commission on Audit (COA) Supervising Auditor Jaime Serrano. The Ombudsman also forfeited all their benefits and banned them from holding another public office.

On the other hand, COA Technical Audit Specialist Amor Quiambao was meted the penalty of six months suspension from the service without pay.

Morales made the ruling following the complaint filed by its Fact-Finding Investigation Bureau through the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices (FFIB-MOLEO) which states that there were irregularities in the bidding process in the awarding of contracts for the repair of the PNPs V-150s.

“The public respondents circumvented the provisions of RA 9184 to take private firms Serpenair, Enviro-Aire, Evans, RJP, Dex-Lan and RKGK Enterprises as the direct suppliers,” the resolution stated.

It also said the government suffered injury worth P409,740,000, “representing the cost of the highly irregular transactions, and that the said companies were given unwarranted benefit, undue advantage or preference as the contracts were awarded to them despite non-compliance with law and without actual delivery of goods and services at the time of payment.”

In 2007, then PNP Chief Dir. Gen. Oscar Calderon initiated the request for repair and refurbishing of 10 V-150 LAVs in connection with the PNP Special Action Force’s (SAF) capacity build-up program for P275,365,000. Subsequently however, Razon requested for a supplemental budget for the repair and refurbishing of remaining 18 LAVs.