Probe ordered on PNP 'ghost' repairs

MANILA, Philippines - Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has ordered the creation of a special panel of investigators to conduct a probe on the questionable repair of 28 V-150 light armored vehicles (LAVs) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in 2007, which cost the government P409.74 million.

The case stemmed from alleged gross violation of procurement procedures in the awarding of the contract to repair and refurbish the LAVs used by the Special Action Force and the Regional Mobile Group.

The contracts were awarded to Enviro-Aire Inc., RJP International Trading Construction and General Services and Evans Spare Parts Motorworks RPR and Trading.

Questions were raised on how the suppliers conducted repairs and where they obtained the spare parts, engines and transmissions of the V-150s, which were developed in the 1960s.

There were also allegations that the winning bidders were paid in advance. The repair contract, which is more than 30 percent of the original acquisition cost, violated Commission on Audit rules, the complaint added.

Morales asked the panel to conduct a preliminary investigation into allegations that a number of police officials and personnel headed by former director general Avelino Razon Jr. were involved in the anomaly.

Director Manuel Soriano Jr. of the Office of the Special Prosecutor leads the probe team. Lolita Calderon is vice-chair and lawyers Ma. Theresa Lee-Rafols, Rachel Favila, and Lolita Bravo are its members.

Soriano used to head the investigating panel that handled the 2009 helicopter deal anomaly of the PNP, which resulted in the filing of graft charges with the Sandiganbayan against former first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and former director general Jesus Verzosa last month.

The team cleared Razon of criminal and administrative liability in that case.

The Office of the Ombudsman’s Fact-Finding Investigation Bureau under the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices is acting as nominal complainant in the case.

Among the other respondents in the case are former Director General Reynaldo Varilla, Director Charlemagne Alejandrino, former Chief Supt. Ray Roderos, PCSupt. Mario San Diego, former PCSupt. Teodorico Lapuz, PSSupt. Emmanuel Ojeda, PSSupt. Reuel Leverne Labrado, PCInsp. Analee Forro, PSupt. Edgar Paatan, PSupt. Henry Duque, SPO4 Victor Puddao, PSupt. Josefina Dumanew, PSSupt. Victor Agarcio, PSupt Warlito Tubon, SPO4 Alfredo Laviña, NUP Eulito Fuentes, former PDir. Geary Barias, former PDir. Eliseo dela Paz, PSSupt. Rainier Espina, NUP Alex Barrameda, NUP Patricia Enaje, NUP Maria Teresa Narcise, NUP Nancy Basallo, PNP Accounting Division Chief Antonio Retrato, PNP Resident COA Supervising Auditor Jaime Serrano, Technical Audit Specialist Amor Quiambao, and 12 private individuals who acted as  suppliers/bidders.