PNP accuser ‘Mata Hari’ surfaces, gets Sin’s protection

Archbishop of Manila Jaime Cardinal Sin has taken under his wing a Hong Kong woman who has accused Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Panfilo Lacson of involvement in drug trafficking and kidnap-for-ransom operations.

Mary Ong, alias "Mata Hari" and "Rosebud," appeared before television cameras and spoke with reporters at a secret press conference at a restaurant in Quezon City yesterday in response to Lacson’s challenge that she stop hiding behind a silhouette.

But Lacson said Ong’s entry into the scene is part of a demolition job against him being spearheaded by his arch foe, Superintendent Reynaldo Berroya, who has been dismissed from the service.

Berroya and retired Constabulary Col. Billy Bibit, who were with Ong at the press conference, told reporters that they were there to protect her from Lacson and his men.

Bibit said: "We know the capability of this group (after Ong)," while Berroya said "it is ridiculous for Lacson to say that this exposé is part of a demolition job."

With a silhouette concealing her identity, Ong had earlier accused Lacson of engaging in criminal activities when he headed Task Force Habagat of the defunct Presidential Anti-Crime Commission (PACC) under then Vice President Joseph Estrada, and until he became commander of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF).

Sin told Ong when they met at the EDSA Shrine in Mandaluyong City yesterday: "May the Good Lord Bless you, do not be afraid. You are doing this for your country."

Ong said she decided to seek Sin’s protection after top police officials, including Director Reynaldo Acop, chief of the PNP Directorate for Personnel and Records Management, threatened to kill her if she did not shut up.

Ong, who was a Cathay Pacific Airways flight attendant until Lacson recruited her, rejected Lacson’s statement that she had worked as such for the government until 1992.

"I have papers to prove that I worked with them until August last year...," she said. "They even gave me travel expenses when I needed to go to Hong Kong for our operations."

Ong also showed reporters the passports of Chinese businessmen who were allegedly killed by PAOCTF agents last year, and several documents that would link Lacson and his men to alleged criminal activities.

Ong also implicated Lacson and PAOCTF agents in the kidnapping and murder of two Chinese men, Chong Hiu Ming and Heng Zhenquiao, in 1998 and 1999.

"It was them who taught me to be smart and to be cautious," she said.

Ong said she will execute an affidavit attesting that Chong was kidnapped by Lacson’s men at the Philippine Plaza hotel on Dec. 30, 1998.

Chong, a 35-year-old trader, was released on Feb. 12, 1999 after the payment of P2.5 million in ransom, but he was killed later in May that year.

Ong said the PAOCTF was also involved in the kidnapping of Heng in Damar Village in Quezon City on March 26 last year, and in the victim’s murder sometime this year.

Ong said she usually acted as interpreter for the Chinese victims, and at times she negotiated for the PAOCTF agents in transactions for illegal drugs.

Ong also linked Superintendent John Campos, former chief of the Southern Tagalog police narcotics group, to several drug operations.

Ong showed reporters documents of the P2 million deposited in Campos’ account in a branch of the Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company.

"This only indicates that I have knowledge about their activities," she said.

Meanwhile. Lacson threatened yesterday to "bodily remove" Chief Superintendent Steve Cudal if the dismissed chief of the Community Relations Group (CRG) does not vacate his office.

Last Thursday, Lacson relieved Cudal as CRG chief reportedly on suspicion that he appeared incognito on television to speak about "massive demoralization" among policemen and their officers.

However, Cudal asked the Quezon City Regional Trial Court yesterday to stop Lacson from relieving him as CRG chief without due process of law.

In his petition for a temporary restraining order, Cudal questioned his relief as CRG chief and his transfer to the Administrative Holding Center at Headquarters Support Service.

The respondents are Lacson and Director Reynaldo Acop of the PNP Personnel and Records Management Section. – With Jaime Laude, Marvin Sy, Mayen Jaymalin