Ombudsman affirms indictment of PNP officials in 'V-150 repair scam' case
11 July 2013, Press Release Philippines Ombudsman
THE Office of the Ombudsman today filed criminal charges against retired Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Avelino Razon Jr., 22 other former and incumbent PNP officials and several private individuals before the Sandiganbayan for the anomalous repair and maintenance of 28 units of V-150 PNP Light Armored Vehicles (LAVs) amounting to more than P400 Million in 2007 after it denied the Motions for Reconsideration/Reinvestigation filed by the respondents.
In a 68-page Joint Order, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales affirmed the earlier Joint Resolution signed on December 28, 2012 finding probable cause to indict Geary Barias, former Director for Comptrollership; Teodorido Lapuz IV, Acting Director for Logistics Support Services (LSS); Emmanuel Ojeda, Reuel Leverne Labrado, Annalee Forro, Henry Duque and Victor Puddao, all members of the LSS–Bids and Awards Committee (LSS-BAC); 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, PNP Management Division, all of the PNP; and private individual Oscar Madamba for Violations of Sec. 3(e) of RA 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) and Art. 217 in relation to Art. 171 (par. 4) of the Revised Penal Code (Malversation through Falsification) in relation to the purchase of 40 tires for V-150 LAVs by the PNP.
Also charged for the same offenses were Razon; Reynaldo Varilla and Charlemagne Alejandrino, both of the National Headquarters (NHQ)-BAC; Lapuz IV; 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, in relation to the anomalous repair and maintenance of the PNP’s 10 V-150 LAVs.
The Ombudsman also filed the same charges against Razon Jr; Lapuz IV, Ojeda, Labrado, Forro, Paatan, Puddao, Dumanew, Retrato, Tubon, Laviña, Property Inspector Maria Teresa Narcise, former Director for Comptrollership Eliseo dela Paz, Fuentes, Chief of Transportation and Maintenance Division Victor Agarcio, Espina, Property Inspector Patricia Enaje, and private individuals Harold and Tyrone Ong, Pensotes, Bais, and Zuniga; in relation to the repair and maintenance of another 18 V-150 LAVs.
Moreover, Lapuz IV, Ojeda, Labrado, Forro, Paatan, Puddao, Dumanew, Retrato, Dela Paz, Espina, Enaje, Basallo, Laviña, and private individuals Gigie Marpa, Marianne Jimenez, Rasita Zaballero, and Carmencita Salvador were charged with the same offenses in relation to the disbursement of PNP funds originally allotted for transportation and delivery expenses.
While the Motions for Reconsideration/ Reinvestigation of Retrato, Tubon, Barias, Barrameda, Fuentes, Espina, Narcise, Dela Paz, Agarcio, Enaje, Basallo and Laviña were partially granted in that the charge against them for violation of Section 65 (b) (4) of Republic Act No. 9184 (or the Government Procurement Reform Act) was dismissed as they “were not involved in the conduct of bidding and award of contracts,†the respondents were indicted for violations of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 and Malversation through Falsification under Article 171, par. (4) of the Revised Penal Code.
The Joint Order underscored that “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. Their subordinates, some of whom were civilians or non-uniformed personnel, who would not dare mislead the officers who, aside from having moral ascendancy over, were with presumed experience and expertise in crime investigation and detection.â€
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