Diaz: Report tainted with malice

1 of 4 PNP generals in Roxas meeting

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Chief Superintendent Bernardo Diaz, Police Regional Office-6 director, on Monday described as malicious the report identifying him in the company of three other police generals and some people identified with Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas, at a hotel in Quezon City.

The media had reported that Diaz was with several other police generals, who are in active service and already retired.

“I smell something fishy from the report. Whoever said that they saw us, it’s as if they are on fishing expedition,” Diaz told The Freeman.

When categorically asked if he was indeed seen inside Araneta-owned compound in Cubao, Quezon City on Saturday, he said “I don’t confirm nor deny anything.”

Diaz’s alleged companions were identified as Director Generoso Cerbo Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) directorate for intelligence, and Chief Supts. Ranier Idio, regional director of the Cagayan Valley Police, and Ronald Santos, deputy director for administration of the Southern Tagalog Police.

The group was reported to with retired PNP deputy director general Marcelo Garbo Jr. at the Gourmet Bar of the Novotel located at Araneta Center.

Also seen in the same venue were retired Army General Reynaldo Ardo, Major Gen. Oscar Lactao of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Thea Reyes, a staff of Roxas.

“I wanted to know the reporter who allegedly saw us. If he knew me, why didn’t he or she approach us and asked why we were there?” Diaz said.

“If indeed I was there, ano’ng masama doon? I believe it’s a public place and anyone could go there,” he said, adding that if the “meeting was supposed to be confidential, then the group could have done it in a more discreet place.

Earlier reports pointed to a group of journalists from all over the country who saw the generals. The journalists were billeted at the same hotel for a seminar organized by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR). Garbo, a known Roxas supporter, even chatted with a reporter.

At around 10 a.m., the group reportedly saw Garbo in another function room, which is situated just across the CMFR seminar venue. When another journalist ‘accidentally’ opened the door to that room, he saw familiar faces and later someone telling that the meeting was confidential.

When Garbo was later asked what was the meeting all about, he brushed it off saying he’s now a civilian and doesn’t owe anyone an explanation.

Following the incident, PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez ordered an investigation on the presence of four active police generals, who are all members of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1984, which adopted Roxas as their mistah or classmate.

As this developed, Cerbo was reported to have already answered the allegations. For Diaz, he would also adopt the group’s reply. (FREEMAN)