Razon, 6 others plead not guilty to P385-M ‘ghost’ tank repairs

MANILA, Philippines - Seven police officials, led by former Philippine National Police chief Avelino Razon, pleaded not guilty before the Sandiganbayan yesterday in connection with the graft and malversation charges filed against them.

They are accused of involvement in the reportedly anomalous repair and maintenance of 28 V-150 Light Armored Vehicles (LAVs), which cost the government P385.48 million in 2007.

Razon together with Geary Barias, former director for comptrollership; Eliseo dela Paz, also former director for comptrollership; Reuel Leverne Labrado, Emmanuel Ojeda, Annalee Forro, all members of the Logistics Support Services-Bids and Awards Committee (BAC); and Josefina Dumanew, purchasing officer, were present during their arraignment at the Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division yesterday morning.

Non-uniformed personnel Alex Barrameda, Nancy Basallo, Patricia Enaje, Ma. Theresa Narcise – all property inspectors – together with private individuals Evangeline Bais, Tyrone Ong, Pamela Pensotes and Oscar Madamba also entered a not guilty plea before Presiding Justice Gregory Ong.

Reynaldo Varilla and Charlemagne Alejandrino, both of the PNP national headquarters’ BAC, though present in court, did not enter a plea as they have filed a motion for reinvestigation.

‘Simulated bidding’

The case stemmed from four contracts for the repair and maintenance of 28 V-150 LAVs awarded to Evans, RJP and Enviro-Aire and parts supply contracts with RKGK Enterprises and Serpenair Group Inc. Dex-Lan Enterprises in 2007 and 2008.

The prosecutors said the defendants held a simulated public bidding for the contracts, noting that the invitation to bid was supposedly published in Alppa Times News, a non-existent publication.

Investigators from the Office of the Ombudsman and the Commission on Audit reported that forged documents were submitted in support of the repair deal including delivery receipts, certifications, inspection and acceptance reports, pre-repair and post-inspection reports and disbursement vouchers.

According to the Office of the Ombudsman, those charged were linked to four transactions that had these characteristics in common: there were anomalies in the bidding process; the biddings were published in a newspaper that is not generally circulated; the services and goods were paid for even before they were delivered; and the private respondents involved suppliers and an editor of the newspaper Alppa Times News.