'Euro general' to face probe on 'anomalous' repair of armored vehicles

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday named 30 more police officers and personnel, including retired police comptroller Eliseo dela Paz, who will face probe for alleged anomalies in the repair of light armored vehicles in 2007. Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said he has ordered the National Police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to investigate and possibly charge at least 36 police officers and civilians who may have a hand in the supposed anomaly. "Ang kailangan imbestigahan, umpisa sa chief PNP hanggang doon sa logistics support services. Maliban po dito, syempre medyo malaki po ‘yung indication na mayroong collusion [with the bidders]," Robredo said at a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City. Robredo said he saw several violations of anti-corruption and procurement laws in the “non-existent" repair of the 28 units of V-150 light armored vehicles based on the report of a PNP fact-finding committee which looked into the matter. “Many of the concerned PNP officers and suppliers committed falsification of documents, usurpation of authority and technical malversation," he said. "This could not have happened if there was no collusion between and amongst the bidders and the PNP personnel involved," he added. On Wednesday, PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. named five retired police officers, including former PNP chief Avelino Razon Jr., and a former head of the PNP inspection committee as some of the officials who will face the investigation on the anomalous repairs. PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo has also ordered a similar probe on the matter. Aside from Dela Paz, who is currently facing charges before the Sandiganbayan for carrying an undeclared amount of 105,000 euros (P6.9 million) to Russia in 2008, the other police offers and civilians who will be facing investigation are: