Filtered By: Topstories
News

No gag order on cops in choppers deal, PNP says


The Philippine National Police on Monday reassured the Senate there is no gag order on personnel earlier charged for the P104.9-million purchase of used choppers passed as brand new in 2009. In a radio interview, PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group head Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr. also maintained they have enough evidence to back the plunder charges they filed against former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and company. "There is no gag order. The Senate being a co-equal branch of government, they can call for police officers, those involved, to appear before the Senate committee hearing to answer their questions. Puwede pa po yan (The Senate can still call the officers to testify)," Pagdilao said in an interview on dzXL radio. Respondents Apart from Mr. Arroyo, others named on the charge sheet were Lionair president Archibald Po, Lionair general manager Renato Sia, MAPTRA president Hilario de Vera, former Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, ex-PNP chief Jesus Verzosa, former PNP deputy chief for operations Jefferson Soriano, former PNP comptroller Romeo Hilomen, former PNP logistics director Luizo Ticman, and former research division head Ronald Roderos. The following active PNP officials were also named as respondents: Director Leocadio Santiago Jr., Director George Piano, Chief Superintendent Herold Ubalde, Chief Superintendent Ermilando Villafuerte, Superintendent Roman Loreto, Senior Superintendent Lurimer Detran, and Conrado Sumanga Jr. On the other hand, those who were charged for predicate crimes of violations of Articles 171 and 172 of the Revised Penal Code, The Government Procurement Act and The Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act were Chief Superintendent Luis Saligumba, Senior Superintendent Job Nolan Antonio, Senior Superintendent Edgar Pataan, and PNP inspection team members Senior Superintendent Crisostomo Garcia, Senior Superintendent Claudo Gaspar, Chief Inspector Maria Josefina Vidal, retired Superintendent Larry Balamaceda, and procurement head division head Superintendent Henry Duque. Gag order? On Sunday, Sen. Franklin Drilon questioned the filing of the charges by the PNP-CIDG, saying it was effectively a legal gag order. Drilon claimed that with the charges filed with the Ombudsman, the police officers involved can choose not to answer questions and invoke their right against self-incrimination during the Senate investigation. At the same time, Drilon accused the CIDG of adopting a shotgun approach in filing the charges, without considering if there is sufficient evidence against those in the charge sheet. "Hindi naman po... Meron kaming (That is not the case... We have) sufficient evidence to file charges against those involved in the anomalous procurement," Pagdilao said. Pagdilao said they started their investigation before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee started its own probe. Besides, he said even senators asked the PNP why the police have not filed any charges. Also, Pagdilao said the police investigation is still ongoing, and the CIDG can add people to be charged before the Ombudsman if there is evidence. "Ang karagdagang ebidensya pwede i-submit sa Ombudsman (We can submit the added evidence to the Ombudsman)," he said. Meanwhile, Pagdilao assured the PNP can still function even if many of its active officials had been charged. "Alam nyo naman sa serbisyo pag may nagkaroon ng vacancy wala namang indispensable sa amin (You know the service. If there is a vacancy, the PNP continues to operate. None of us in the police force is indispensable)," he said. — RSJ, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT