Ex-PNP chief, 22 others face raps

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales has filed criminal charges in the Sandiganbayan against former Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Avelino Razon Jr. and 22 former and incumbent police officers and private contractors for an allegedly anomalous contract to repair and maintain 28 V-150 light armored vehicles (LAV) in 2007.

In a 68-page order, Morales denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Razon and the other respondents nearly seven months after she issued a resolution finding probable cause to indict them for the allegedly anomalous repairs made during the Arroyo administration.

In a statement, Morales said, “The insistence of some of the respondent police officers that they just relied on the reports or actions of their subordinates and were misled could not be given credence.  Their subordinates, some of whom were civilians or nonuniformed personnel, would not dare mislead the officers who, aside from having moral ascendancy over them, were presumed to have experience and expertise in crime investigation and detection.”