Lacson admits PACC had dealings with ‘Mata Hari’

Philippine National Police chief Director General Panfilo Lacson admitted yesterday that the now-defunct Presidential Anti-Crime Commission (PACC) had dealings with a Hong Kong anti-narcotics deep penetration agent, who now claims that PACC personnel were involved in kidnap-for-ransom activities under the guise of anti-drug operations.

In a radio interview, Lacson said he knows the true identity of the so-called "Mata Hari," who revealed that the "shootouts" reported by the PACC then under Vice President Joseph Estrada were actually summary executions of suspected drug dealers.

"We are involved in solving kidnap-for-ransom, not in recycling evidence," he said, referring to allegations by the Hong Kong agent that PACC men were involved in kidnapping activities, the selling of seized drugs, and the summary executions of suspected criminals.

Lacson’s admission that he knew who "Mata Hari" was came a day after he dismissed her allegations as "a mere demolition job" by his rivals. He named police Superintendent Reynaldo Berroya as among them.

Lacson revealed that "Mata Hari" could very well be Mary Ong, whom he said actually became an PACC agent when he was head of Task Force’s Habagat, then PACC’s operation arm.

Lacson revealed that Ong was introduced to him by Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, who now heads the San Juan police.

According to Lacson, it was Cruz who "handled" Ong. The PNP chief said Ong provided the PACC with vital information which were used against drug traffickers at that time.

"She was introduced to me. I think I met her once when she gave us one big operation. But that was just all to it," Lacson said.

Meanwhile, Berroya lashed back at Lacson for resorting to "finger-pointing" everytime charges against the PNP leadership would surface.

"The problem with him is that he resorts to wild accusations everytime somebody tries to reveal the truth about their illegal operations," he said.

Berroya, who headed Task Force Lawin of the PACC, said the mode of operations referred to by "Mata-Hari" was "common knowledge" among policemen and notorious personalities in the "underground."