PNP starts probe of top officials linked by ‘

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has started investigating ranking police officers accused of drug trafficking by former undercover agent Mary "Rosebud" Ong.

Director Nestorio Gualberto, chief of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said yesterday there will be a thorough investigation of the case after receiving from Ong voluminous documents, including her affidavits linking the police officials to the illegal drug trade.

Gualberto assured the public there will be no whitewash in the probe.

It is believed the evidence could implicate Sen. Panfilo Lacson, Director Reynaldo Acop, Senior Superintendent Francisco Villaroman and Superintendent John Campos, Ong’s former lover, in drug trafficking and other illegal activities.

Gualberto said the CIDG will invite Lacson and the police officials for questioning to shed light on the allegations of Ong, which could be corroborated by the evidence she had submitted.

"We are going to look into these pieces of evidence presented by Miss Ong and evaluate them fairly," Gualberto said.

During a recent Senate hearing, Ong accused Lacson, Acop, Campos and Villaroman of involvement in smuggling, money laundering, the murder of 12 suspected Chinese drug smugglers, and the activities of a Hong Kong-based criminal gang or triad.

Acop said he may file charges against Ong for malversation of public funds for failing to return some P4.5 million, which he said should have been used as "show money" during an anti-drug operation against the Hong Kong triad.

"We have the deposit slip on the initial P2 million which was placed in Ong’s account that was supposed to be used as show money during the Oplan Cyclops in 1998," he said.

"The others, totaling P4 million, were given to her by Superintendent John Campos. That was the reason for all my calls to her about money — because I was already terminating the operations and I was supposed to turn her over to the (Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force). Up to now she has not returned the money," Acop said.

He also branded as "disinformation" reports that Campos and Villaroman are set to corroborate Ong’s allegations, turning against him and Lacson.

"The Intelligence Services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) has been doing that (disinformation)," he said. "In fact, I have received text messages saying one day ‘Sasabog ako’ (I will blow up). I don’t know what kind of threat is that. But it is something."

Acop said a socialite, whom he refused to identify, had been trying for the past two days to bribe Campos so he would "spill the beans" on Lacson.

"I have received reports that they have tried to threaten some of my men," he said. "They have also offered large amounts of bribes...Campos had also received several calls, a socialite even offered him big amounts just to turn his back."

Philippine National Police chief Director General Leandro Mendoza ordered yesterday additional security for Acop and his younger brother Chief Superintendent Romeo Acop following intelligence reports that the New People’s Army (NPA) has sent a hit squad to assassinate them.

"There have been reports about plots against the two Acop brothers," Mendoza said. "It is better that they are forewarned. I have advised them to be extra careful (in view of the ) death threats."

Acop said he has been receiving death threats from the NPA since he had become director of the Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon police.

"I have been receiving reports even when I was assigned as (police) chief of Region 3 and 4, but these have been further reinforced by reports coming from no less than the PNP Intelligence Group and the ISAFP," he said.

Acop said he was thankful to Mendoza for giving him and his brother their own personal choices of security men.

"I expect that there is now threat on us from all sides–the NPA, the Hong Kong Triad, and others," he said.

Acop said Remus Garganera, a trusted man of Campos, might soon start "singing the tune" of whatever allegations Lacson’s accusers would like him to say in exchange for a huge amount of money.

Garganera was placed under the ISAFP’s custody after he had come out of hiding.

Ong has accused Garganera of being the caretaker of a warehouse which the Hong Kong Triad had allegedly used for storing illegal drugs.

Earlier, Acop said expressed fears that the ISAFP took custody of Garganera so he would be forced to corroborate the allegations of Ong.

Garganera was reportedly taken to ISAFP headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City by a certain lawyer Tony Fuentebella, said to be a relative of Garganera.