PNP welcomes Lacson’s call for probe into alleged SAF fund misuse

PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. John Bulalacao INQUIRER.net / NOY MORCOSO

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday welcomed Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s call for investigation on the alleged misuse of P60-million subsistence allowance for Special Action Force (SAF) troopers.

PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. John Bulalacao said that the PNP would make the former SAF officials involved to be available to face any probe.

“The PNP assures the availability of the concerned PNP officers to face any investigation. That is actually the purpose of their relief and reassignment to the holding unit to ensure their availability and preclude them from exerting any influence on these investigations,” Bulalacao said in an interview.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday filed Senate Resolution No. 712, directing the Senate committee on public order and illegal drugs to look into the controversy.

He said SAF members had approached him and aired their grievances on the matter and furnished his office a copy of their complaint affidavit filed before the Office of the Ombudsman.

READ: Lacson wants probe on P60M unreleased SAF funds

Outgoing PNP chief Dir. Gen. Ronald Dela Rosa on Tuesday ordered the relief of former SAF chief Dir. Benjamin Lusad from his position as head of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations-Southern Luzon (DIPO-SL) and former SAF budget and fiscal officer Sr. Supt. Andre Dizon as DIPO-SL Administrative and Resource Management Division chief.

Dela Rosa likewise ordered the relief of two non-commissioned officers Senior Police Officer 2 Maila Bustamante and SPO 1 Jack James Irica, who were both assigned in the PNP-SAF Finance.

Former and current SAF troopers filed a complaint before the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices (Moleo), accusing Lusad and three others of plunder and malversation for not releasing the allowance to troopers despite receiving the funds.

Dizon, Dela Rosa said, has returned about P37 million of the full amount to current SAF chief Dir. Noel Taliño through the PNP comptroller.

Dela Rosa said Dizon initially returned P10 million and followed by P27 million.

Dela Rosa, however, said he did not know the exact amount of the purportedly missing allowances and noted that an investigation is already being carried out by the Ombudsman. /je

READ: SAF officer in alleged fund misuse has returned P37M to PNP