Former PNP Chief Avelino Razon Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–The Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday filed criminal case against retired Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Avelino Razon Jr., 22 other former and incumbent PNP officials and several private individuals before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the questionable repair and maintenance of 28 units of V-150 PNP Light Armored Vehicles (LAVs) worth over P400 million in 2007.
In a 68 page order, the appeal and bid for reinvestigation of the case was dismissed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.
The order affirmed the earlier Joint Resolution dated Dec. 28, 2012 finding basis to charge Geary Barias, former Director for Comptrollership; Teodorido Lapuz IV, Acting Director for Logistics Support Services (LSS); Emmanuel Ojeda, Reuel Leverne Labrado, Annalee Forro, Henry Duque and Victor Puddao, all members of the LSS–Bids and Awards Committee (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, all of the PNP; and private individual Oscar Madamba with violations of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Art. 217 in relation to Art. 171 (par. 4) of the Revised Penal Code for Malversation through Falsification in relation to the purchase of 40 tires for V-150 LAVs by the PNP.
Also charged with the same offenses were Razon; Reynaldo Varilla and Charlemagne Alejandrino, both of the National Headquarters (NHQ)-BAC; Lapuz IV; Ojeda; Labrado; Forro; Edgar Paatan; Puddao; Dumanew; Retrato; Tubon; Laviña, responsible supply police non-commissioned officer of the LSS; Barias; Barrameda; Fuentes; Espina; Nancy Basallo, property inspector; and private individuals Harold and Tyrone Ong, Pamela Pensotes, Evangeline Bais, and Artemio Zuniga, in relation to the anomalous repair and maintenance of the PNP’s 10 V-150 LAVs.
The Ombudsman also filed the same charges against Razon Jr; Lapuz IV, Ojeda, Labrado, Forro, Paatan, Puddao, Dumanew, Retrato, Tubon, Laviña, property inspector Maria Teresa Narcise, former Director for Comptrollership Eliseo dela Paz, Fuentes, Chief of Transportation and Maintenance Division Victor Agarcio, Espina, Property Inspector Patricia Enaje, and private individuals Harold and Tyrone Ong, Pensotes, Bais, and Zuniga for the repair and maintenance of another 18 V-150 LAVs.
Also, Lapuz IV, Ojeda, Labrado, Forro, Paatan, Puddao, Dumanew, Retrato, Dela Paz, Espina, Enaje, Basallo, Laviña, and private individuals Gigie Marpa, Marianne Jimenez, Rasita Zaballero, and Carmencita Salvador were charged with the same offenses in relation to the disbursement of PNP funds originally allotted for transportation and delivery expenses.
“The insistence of some of the respondent police officers that they just relied on the reports or actions of their subordinates and were supposedly misled, could not be given credence. Their subordinates, some of whom were civilians or non-uniformed personnel, who would not dare mislead the officers who, aside from having moral ascendancy over, were with presumed experience and expertise in crime investigation and detection,” the Ombudsman order stated.