Cops, drugbusters slam whistleblower

Following in the footsteps of Ador Mawanay, another character has implicated police officers in illegal activities, including drugs, prostitution and gambling.

Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) officials described as "insane" the alleged whistleblower identified as Juanito Perpinion alias Jonathan Prestado.

Two of the officials whom Perpinion linked to illegal drug activities have surfaced to belie his allegations. They are former Intelligence Group director Chief Superintendent Jesus Versoza and Central Police District (CPD) director Chief Superintendent Napoleon Castro.

Versoza condemned the "exposé" calling it as part of the propaganda blitz by certain political groups which seek to destroy the integrity of the PNP.

"The propaganda war is heating up again, and guns are ablaze, seemingly from all directions. The accuser is being used to fire at innocent targets, but I am sure this will explode in the face of the handlers," Versoza said, without elaborating further.

He called his accuser as "insane" and the accusations as "lies."

"He has mental cracks. I know because I was with the investigating team that interrogated him when he came out with an exposé on another batch police officers a year ago," he said.

In his latest tale, Perpinion used the name "Jonathan Prestado" in implicating 14 police officials, including two generals on their alleged involvement in a well-entrenched drug syndicate operating in the northern part of Luzon.

When The STAR verified Jonathan’s identity at the National Police Commission (Napolcom) last Wednesday night, it was learned that he was the same person who implicated Senior Superintendent Charlemagne Alejandrino in drug trafficking activities when he was still the Quezon provincial police director about two years ago.

Perpinion also linked the late Rep. Marcial Punzalan and a local mayor in the controversy.

In 2001, Perpinion was able to convince Fr. "Puti" Enriquez of the Archdiocese of Lucena into believing his stories. This prompted the priest to seek the assistance of running priest Fr. Robert Reyes for protection.

In Manila, Fr. Reyes called up then former military intelligence chief Brig. Gen. Victor Corpus to ensure Perpinion’s safety.

But Corpus told The STAR last Wednesday night that his office dropped him as a possible asset after he failed to substantiate his claims.

"Binitiwan naming siya. He failed to corroborate his statements with other evidence and witnesses," Corpus said.

He added that his office also asked the PNP, then under Leandro Mendoza, now Transportation secretary, to assess Perpinion’s credibility. "It turned out that he was a hoax. His claims were incredible," Corpus said.

Perpinion has earned the monicker, "Bakulaw" and "Sayad," from police investigators whom he earlier duped of cash in exchange for information on drug users and pushers, which later turned out to be fabricated.

PDEA Director General Anselmo Avenido lamented that the unfounded revelations destroyed the careers of the police officers which Perpinion mentioned in his five-page affidavit submitted to the Napolcom.

"Lahat tayo nakuryente, malala pa kay Ador (Mawanay)," Avenido said, referring to Mawanay, who also peddled tales of drugs and pay-offs to top military and police officials some two years ago.

The "kuryente" story also drew negative reactions from PNP chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., who has ordered an investigation.

"Whatever his personality, we also have to consider the intellectual capacity and psychological state of any person coming out with an instant exposé," Ebdane said.

The PNP chief called for a press conference to clarify the matter. Castro, who joined the press conference, vehemently denied the allegations.

Castro said the story came as a "complete shock" to him. "I don’t know him, kaya nga ang request ko ay makaharap kami ng taong ito. I also insist on an investigation," he said.

The CPD chief said he is contemplating on taking a legal action against Perpinion for destroying his credibility. "There is no commonality among the people mentioned in the affidavit, kung totoo, mayroong nagdikta sa kanya," he said.

Avenido said this should serve as a lesson for both the law enforcers and the media to first ascertain the credibility of "whistleblowers" who profess knowledge on alleged illegal activities of government personnel, especially police officials.

He noted that Perpinion made the same allegations two years ago. "Nag-iba lang ang mga tao na binabanggit niya," the PDEA chief said.

PDEA officials said the man first approached Senior Superintendent Lina Sarmiento in May 2000 at the defunct National Drug Law Enforcement and Prevention (NDEP) center and volunteered information against the alleged illegal drug activities of police and military personnel.

Sarmiento recalled that she went a step further in verifying Perpinion’s allegations but all operations yielded negative results.

"His story is fantastic," she said.

Sarmiento’s name was not in the original affidavit, but her name was published in newspapers. She added: "Nahalata nga naming na talagang may deperensya sa ulo kaya ang tawag ay sayad."

Superintendent Ager Ontog, assigned with the PDEA intelligence and investigation service, decried the unfounded story that came out in the news.

"To me, this is a very irresponsible act because you are trampling on the reputation of people. I categorically deny his allegations that I am involved in any illegal activity," Ontog said.