Ebdane orders probe on alleged threats on Lacson’s life

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. ordered yesterday an investigation into alleged threats on the life of opposition presidential contender Sen. Panfilo Lacson.

Although the PNP has yet to receive credible information on the reported death threats against Lacson, Ebdane directed his men to look into the claim made by Chief Superintendent Francisco Zubia, the head of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) when Lacson was still PNP chief.

"We have also to conduct the investigation because it is also our interest that the candidates (in the May 10 elections) must be safe," Ebdane said.

Zubia confirmed yesterday that Lacson had been receiving threats on his life but their credibility has yet to be established.

"The threats have always been there even before he filed his candidacy," said Zubia, Lacson’s classmate at the Philippine Military Acacdemy (PMA) and now in charge of the presidential bet’s security.

"The information we have is raw and came from intelligence sources. We are in the process of validating it," Zubia said.

Meanwhile, Ebdane said Zubia has filed for optional retirement apparently to serve "full time" as Lacson’s consultant.

Ebdane said he has approved Zubia’s resignation, which awaits the approval of the National Police Commission (Napolcom).

Zubia however cannot openly endorse Lacson without the Napolcom –which administers the police organization –approving his early retirement, according to Ebdane.

"He (Zubia) applied for an early retirement and I have endorsed it but that will have to go to the Napolcom (for approval)," Ebdane said.

The PNP chief said politics did not have anything to do with Zubia’s early retirement.

Ebdane denied Zubia’s retirement was prompted by pressures from various sectors on several police generals supporting Lacson. Zubia has filed a 30-day leave of absence which he intends to extend until he retires in May after the elections.

"I was informed unofficially that the candidate (Lacson) requested for a security officer and he (Zubia) took the job. He is retiring just after the elections so that is the contention," Ebdane said.

Zubia decided to join Lacson’s campaign bandwagon even as his uncle, Sen. Edgardo Angara is supporting another presidential candidate.

For Zubia, blood is apparently not thicker than water after he chose to support his fellow PMAyer’s presidential bid than that of Fernando Poe Jr., the main opposition candidate being backed by Angara, head of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP).

Poe is Lacson’s opposition rival for the presidency. Angara and Lacson, who is also with the LDP, had a falling out after the former chose to endorse Poe as the opposition standard-bearer.

"He (Angara) is my uncle. Our fathers are first cousins," Zubia told journalists covering Lacson’s campaign in Biñan, Laguna yesterday.

"But I am supporting another candidate. Ping (Lacson’s nickname) is my friend and classmate at the (PMA) Academy," he said. Another PMA classmate, Sen. Gregorio Honasan is in charge of Poe’s security.

Lacson and Zubia are co-accused in the controversial Kuratong Baleleng case, which the courts have dismissed six times.

Lacson was head of Task Force Habagat of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, headed by then Vice President Joseph Estrada, when the alleged Kuratong rubout case took place in 1985. Zubia was then head of the PNP Traffic Management Group which was involved in the case.

Another Kuratong suspect recently spotted by journalists in one of Lacson’s campaign sorties was Romeo Acop, former head of the CIDG.

Although Camp Crame officials claim he is assigned to a group studying reforms in the PNP, Zubia said he has actually been on floating status for three years now, like the other suspects in the Kuratong Baleleng murder case.

"I was assigned to the administrative office at headquarters, doing nothing," he said.

Zubia said he was detailed with Lacson upon the senator’s request, which was approved by Camp Crame and the Commission on Elections.

PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Joel Goltiao warned Zubia against involving himself in partisan politics while he is in active service.

"To be partisan is actively campaigning for the candidate," Goltiao said.

Police officers engaging in partisan politics are being monitored by the PNP, Goltiao said.

At the same time, Ebdane appealed to members of the media to provide the PNP with video footage and photographs of police officers caught supporting any local or national candidate.

"There have been several reports but we need the evidence so we can take a positive action," Ebdane said. — With Jess Diaz