Ex-PNP chief faces probe over V-150 repairs

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it will invite former PNP Chief Avelino Razon Jr. and other retired police officials to shed light on the alleged ghost repairs of 28 V-150 Light Armored Vehicles (LAVs) worth more than P400 million in 2007.

Former PNP Chief Avelino Razon Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

PNP Director General Raul Bacalzo ordered the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to launch a probe to determine the criminal liability of certain PNP officials as well as the suppliers involved in the contract.

A six-member fact-finding committee previously found “gross violations” in the awarding of the contract to repair and refurbish the 28 V-150 LAVs, which were mostly used by the Special Action Force and Regional Public Safety Battalions.

The committee found that the contract violated Commission on Audit regulations with the repair costs being more than 30 percent of the original acquisition cost.

It also noted the “haste” with which the claims were processed and payments made in January 2007, “even before the first of the refurbished units were delivered seven months later.”

Breakdowns

Out of the 28 refurbished LAVs, which are now either with the Logistics Service Support or the SAF, “only 15 remain to be serviceable while 13 units are currently unserviceable,” PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz Jr. told a briefing.

“Breakdowns and defects continue to be reported by end-users,” he added, reading a prepared statement.

The PNP, he said, was also seeking a higher-level inquiry into the propriety of a National Police Commission resolution in 2007 ordering the recall of all V-150 LAVs “without any prior technical inspection report and assessment from the end-users.”

Aside from Razon, Cruz said other retired officials who will be asked to explain included former Deputy Director General Reynaldo Varilla, then the chief of the bids and awards committee, retired Directors Charlemagne Alejandrino and Rey Roderos, retired Chief Superintendents Mario San Diego and Teodorido Lapus.

Cruz also named the contractors involved in the repairs: Enviro-Aire, Evans Spare Parts, RJP International Trading, Serpent Air Group, Text Lan Enterprises, and RKGK Enterprises.