3 ex-PNP officials get 10 years for graft

MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan has sentenced a former deputy director for comptrollership and two other former officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to a maximum of 10 years in jail for graft.

Retired chief superintendent Juan Luna and retired chief inspectors Joven Brizuela and Danilo Garcia were also ordered to reimburse the PNP for P20 million worth of ghost purchases for combat clothing and equipment 18 years ago.

In a 33-page ruling, the Sandiganbayan first division said the PNP Cordillera Regional Command (Crecom) issued 250 Land Bank of the Philippines checks worth P20 million naming Brizuela as payee, enabling him to convert the checks into cash while the proceeds were turned over to Garcia in the presence of Luna.

To liquidate the cash advances, they allegedly submitted several payrolls to the regional accountant. These payrolls were approved by Luna and certified by Brizuela as duly received by the supposed recipients.

This anomaly was discovered after officials of several Crecom commands came forward to disown the signatures on the payrolls, which they said were forged.