11 PNP men dismissed

Manila, Philippines -  Ten Philippine National Police (PNP) officers and a civilian employee were relieved and charged with graft for their involvement in the alleged anomalous purchase of two helicopters reportedly owned by former first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.

Ordered dismissed from the police service with the accessory penalties of forfeiture of retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification to hold public office effective last Friday were Chief Superintendents Luis Saligumba and Herold Ubalde; Senior Superintendents Job Nolan Antonio, Mansue Lukban, Edgar Paatan Sr. and Roman Loreto; Superintendent Ermilando Villafuerte; Chief Inspector Ma. Josefina Recometa; SP04 Ma. Linda Padojinog; SPO1 Avensuel Dy; and civilian employee Ruben Gongona.

The PNP also ordered the suspension of Senior Superintendent Joel Crisostomo Garcia, SPO3 Jorge Gabiana, PO3 Dionisio Jimenez and civilian employees Emilia Aliling, Edwin Chavarria and Edwin Maranan from June 15 to Dec. 15.

The Office of the Ombudsman ordered the suspension and dismissal of the accused in a 143-page joint resolution approved on June 1.

The PNP likewise ordered retired police generals Leocadio Santiago, director George Piano and Superintendent Claudio Gaspar Jr. to pay a fine equivalent to a year of their salaries to be deducted from the payment of their accumulative leave credits.

The officers were penalized with forfeiture of their retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification to hold public office pursuant to an Ombudsman resolution issued last May 30 for serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

Arroyo and the officers were accused of colluding to pass off as brand-new two used Robinson R44 Raven aircraft that were sold to the police.

The PNP also acquired a third Raven helicopter from the same distributor, paying a total of P104.98 million for the three helicopters.

The distributor, Archibald Po, said Arroyo had bought five helicopters from him in 2003 and later instructed him in 2006 to buy two of them back for a high price after using them for his wife’s 2004 election campaign.

The Ombudsman said the police officers and civilian employees conspired to commit “numerous irregular and illegal related acts over the negotiated procurement of two helicopters.”

The negotiated procurement was overpriced by over P34 million, the anti-graft body said.

Who gave orders?

Meanwhile, Sen. Panfilo Lacson has called on the dismissed PNP officers to shed light on the identities of the other personalities involved in the case.

“My heart goes out to the PNP officers involved, particularly the lower ranking officers and the non-commissioned officers who were clearly unwitting co-conspirators in an insatiable greed of the more powerful during PGMA’s (President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s) time,” Lacson said.

Lacson, who initiated the Senate probe on the issue, said it is not too late for the officers to testify about everything that they know regarding the deal.

He said that the officers should provide the details on how Arroyo manipulated the deal. –With Marvin Sy