Lacson seeks inquiry into SAF subsistence allowance mess

Senator Panfilo Lacson. CATHY MIRANDA / INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday sought a Senate inquiry into the anomalous withholding of P58.9 million in subsistence allowances of members of the the Philippine National Police’s elite Special Action Force (SAF).

In filing Senate Resolution No. 712, Lacson said the committee on public order and dangerous drugs, which he chairs, would find out whether certain SAF officials were liable for the alleged fund scam.

The senator, a former PNP chief, was referring to the admission of former SAF Director Benjamin Lusad and budget and fiscal officer Sr. Supt. Andre Dizon that they used the P58.9-million additional subsistence allowance of some 4,000 commandos for SAF’s operational expenses.

Forefront of fight

If the report was true, Lacson said the issue threatened to “demoralize” SAF members.

“We cannot allow, yet again, another injustice to be committed against our heroes in uniform who are in the forefront of our fight against the ills of terrorism and criminality…” Lacson said in his resolution.

Records show that the commandos failed to receive their allowances from February to December 2016 and from August to December 2017.

P37M returned

Retired PNP chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said last week that Dizon had already returned P37 million.

Former SAF Director Moro Virgilio Lazo and 12 officers filed a 12-page complaint in the Ombudsman last week against Lusad, Dizon, and finance officers SPO2 Maila Bustamante and SPO1 Jck James Irica.

“I don’t know if that was the advise of their lawyers, but by returning the (P37 million) it was like saying they had the money with them (all along),” Lazo said. — CHRISTINE O. AVENDAÑO AND NIKKO DIZON