Ex-PNP chief Razon, 32 others face graft for armored vehicles scam

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday filed graft charges against former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Avelino Razon Jr. and more than 30 people, including former and incumbent police officials, before the Sandiganbayan for the allegedly anomalous P400 million repair and maintenance contract for 28 units of V-150 PNP Light Armored Vehicles (LAV) in 2007.

The Ombudsman filed the criminal case after denying the motions for consideration filed by Razon and the others accused.

Charged for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corruptt Practices Act were Geary Barias, former Director for Comptrollership; Teodorido Lapuz IV, Acting Director for Logistics Support Services; Emmanuel Ojeda, Reuel Leverne Labrado, Annalee Forro, Henry Duque and Victor Puddao, all members of the LSS–Bids and Awards Committee; Josefina Dumanew, purchasing officer; Antonio Retrato, chief accountant; Warlito Tubon, inspection officer; Alex Barrameda, property inspector; Eulito Fuentes, supply accountable officer; Rainier Espina, acting chief of the PNP Management Division.

They were also charged with malversation through falsification in relation to the purchase of 40 tires for the LAVs.

"The insistence of some of the respondent police officers that they just relied on the reports or actions of their subordinates and were supposedly misled, could not be given credence," Carpio-Morales said in the order.

She added that subordinates and even civilians "would not dare mislead the officers" due to their presumed moral ascendancy, experience and expertise in crime and investigation.

Razon and other officials, meanwhile, were charged with the same offenses for the repair and maintenance of 10 LAVs. The other officials were Reynaldo Varilla and Charlemagne Alejandrino, both of the National Headquarters-BAC; Lapuz; Ojeda; Labrado; Forro; Edgar Paatan; Puddao; Dumanew; Retrato; Tubon; Laviña, responsible supply police non-commissioned officer of the LSS; Barias; Barrameda; Fuentes; Espina; Nancy Basallo, property inspector; and private individuals Harold and Tyrone Ong, Pamela Pensotes, Evangeline Bais and Artemio Zuniga.

Separate charges were also filed against the same individuals for the repair of 18 more LAVs.