Lacson: Palace ‘too paranoid’ on 200 cops

Opposition lawmaker Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Malacañang was being "too paranoid" by reassigning some 200 police officers perceived to be close to him to Mindanao and other far-flung areas following coup rumors.

The police officers were former members of the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF), once headed by Lacson, a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.

Lacson said he asked his former colleagues in the PNP and confirmed that the transfers were ordered by "higher-ups" in the Arroyo administration.

"It was an order from Malacañang and they could not do anything," he told a radio program. "This is how paranoid this administration is that it was willing to sacrifice its anti-crime program just to fulfill its political agenda."

Reached for his comment, pro-administration Sen. Juan Flavier speculated that "politics" was the reason for the reassignments. "If true, this is an early maneuver in response to reports that Lacson will be running for president," he said.

Lacson said a police officer killed in a shootout with suspected criminals and decorated by President Arroyo was among the reassigned officers.

He identified the officer as Inspector Allan de Leon, then with the National Capital Region Police Office.

Another officer, identified as Chief Inspector Allan Campos, who was wounded in a gunfight with suspected criminals and decorated by then NCRPO chief Deputy Director Edgar Aglipay, was also included in the list, Lacson said.

Lacson and fellow opposition legislator, Sen. Gregorio Honasan, were reportedly urging active military officers to launch a coup. Honasan and Lacson denied the rumors.

Lacson added military officers identified with Honasan, a former coup leader, would also suffer the same fate as the 200 police officers.

Honasan, who appeared in the same radio show, accused the military of spreading the rumors. "It is sad that these people are fabricating these intelligence reports to cover up their inefficiency and incompetence," he said.

"Is this the prize we get for staking our lives in fighting hardened criminals? Was it an offense being a member of the PAOCTF then?" one officer told The STAR.

Another officer said he received a citation from Malacañang for helping defend the presidential palace in May 2001 from rioters loyal to deposed President Joseph Estrada.

"We doubt if they will even hear us. We are just at their mercy," another officer complained.

They claimed Malacañang ordered PNP personnel chief Director Jose Lalisan Jr. to sign the reassignment orders, bypassing PNP chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr.

Lalisan defended the transfers. "Those reassigned to different posts are not being punished. They are being transferred to positions where their individual qualifications are most needed," he said. "All assignments are based on the exigency of the service, performance record, and individual expertise of personnel." — With Christina Mendez, Pete Laude