GMA rebuffs calls for Berroya’s removal as intelligence chief

President Arroyo yesterday rebuffed calls to remove from a sensitive post a ranking police officer who spent time in jail for the kidnapping of a Taiwanese businessman.

In a meeting with Chinese-Filipino business leaders in Manila’s Chinatown, Arroyo rejected their demand to rescind the appointment of Senior Superintendent Reynaldo Berroya as intelligence chief and urged them to "forget the past for now."

Berroya took his oath for the new post earlier this month to complete his rehabilitation after a brief stint in prison.

A Makati regional trial court sentenced him to life in jail in July 1995 for the abduction of Taiwanese businessman Jack Chou, who was freed after his family reportedly paid several millions of pesos in ransom.

But the Supreme Court overturned the ruling in December 1997 on the grounds his guilt was not proven beyond reasonable doubt.

Berroya has consistently maintained his innocence.

Arroyo stressed that while there were concerns over Berroya’s "checkered past," the Supreme Court has already cleared him.

"Let me personally assure you that whatever you think Berroya has done in the past, it will not happen this time especially not (while) the president of the Philippines is Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo," she said.

While other points in the president’s speech were applauded, the business leaders stayed silent when she defended Berroya.

Arroyo also vowed to go after criminal gangs preying on the economically prominent Chinese-Filipino community, saying that since she took office in January kidnapping cases have significantly dropped.

"We have no more reports of new kidnappings" after the police solved 12 cases during the first 88 days of the new administration, she said.

Arroyo came to power in January after a popular revolt toppled corruption-tainted President Joseph Estrada.

Arroyo noted that she has also abolished a special police unit whose members were allegedly involved in criminal activities.

In an open letter to news organizations earlier Monday, the Chinese-Filipino business leaders had urged Arroyo to remove Berroya from his post.

"Berroya’s appointment is the worst signal that can be given about the government’s policy and attitude toward the kidnapping menace," it read.

Earlier this year, ethnic Chinese business leaders called on Arroyo at the presidential palace to express their concern over a perceived rise in abductions targeting their community. – Marichu Villanueva, Nestor Etolle