Nothing irregular in filing of plunder raps, says PNP

The chief investigator of the Philippine National Police has denied suggestions that police officials intended to sabotage the plunder case they filed against former first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and several police officers led by former PNP chief Jesus Versoza for the purchase of two helicopters later discovered to be second-hand.

“If we do a cover-up, it’s like we’re making fools of ourselves,” said Director Samuel Pagdilao, chief of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

He added, “There are those who impute a malicious reason behind (our filing of plunder charges). That is not our motivation. The PNP was a victim because we were sold second-hand choppers for the price of new ones. We have the opportunity to correct this. Those responsible should be punished so that this will not happen again.”

He said prosecutors of the Department of Justice and the legal counsel of the Senate blue ribbon committee supported their decision to file the plunder case.

“Right from the start we were in constant discussion, coordination with the counsel (of the blue ribbon committee). We also consulted the officials of the DOJ and a judge. All our lawyers in the CIDG shared the assessment that it’s plunder,” said Pagdilao, who is himself a lawyer.

He reminded senators who questioned their timing that PNP Director General Raul Bacalzo had given them the order to file charges before the Senate investigation started.

On Sunday, Sen. Franklin Drilon said he wondered why police probers did not wait for the Senate to conclude its own inquiry into the alleged anomaly before filing a case for plunder, noting that witnesses might henceforth refuse to testify for fear of incriminating themselves.

Pagdilao said incumbent PNP officers charged with plunder or graft for the alleged helicopter scam were not barred from appearing in the Senate probe.

“They can (attend) because there is no order from the Chief PNP prohibiting our police officers from appearing before the Senate blue ribbon hearing. They can still be invited and the invitation is continuing if there is a scheduled (hearing),” Pagdilao said.

Aside from Arroyo and Versoza, others charged with plunder were former Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, former PNP deputy chief for operations Jefferson Soriano, former PNP comptroller Romeo Hilomen, former logistics director Luizo Ticman and former research division head Ronald Roderos.