PNP denies giving special treatment to Razon

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police maintains that no special treatment is being extended to former PNP chief Avelino Razon Jr. and 12 police officers linked to the allegedly anomalous repair of V150 light armored vehicles worth P400 million.

PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Reuben Sindac said 13 of the 33 accused are detained in the PNP Custodial Center at Camp Crame on orders of the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division. The others were at large.

Sindac said he personally inspected the cells of high-value detainees, which have no air-conditioning units. Electric fans cool the inmates inside the custodial center. Only the receiving area for visitors is air-conditioned.

“(There are) at least four detainees in one detention cell. Razon shares his detention with three others in two double-deck beds. They are in separate cells with steel bars,” Sindac added.

The Sandiganbayan ordered the PNP to take custody of Razon and 12 other retired and active police officers involved in the “ghost repair” of V150. The anti-graft court formally transferred the custody of the 13 accused to the PNP through acting Chief Judicial Staff Officer Albert de la Cruz.

Aside from Razon, other accused are Generals Geary Barias, Eliseo dela Paz, Reynaldo Varilla, Charlemagne Alejandrino, Emmanuel Ojeda and Reuel Leverne Labrado.

Accused civilians include Alex Barrameda, Nancy Basallo, Patricia Enaje, Ma. Theresa Narcise, Analee Forro and Josefina Dumanew.

Chief Superintendent Samuel Yordan, director of the Headquarters Support Service, stressed that all accused confined at the custodial center are subject to existing rules and regulations governing persons under custody.