Former Lacson aide relieved of duties

A former close aide of then Philippine National Police chief and now Sen. Panfilo Lacson was relieved from his post and ordered investigated yesterday after several unregistered vehicles were discovered inside his occupied Camp Crame condominium unit.

Relieved as team leader of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Office (CIDO) of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) was Chief Inspector Mafelino Basar, Sen. Lacson’s former aide de camp. Basar was reassigned to the Holding Center of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group pending the outcome of the investigation against him.

Chief Superintendent Eduardo Matillano said aside from being in possession of unregistered vehicles, Basar is also being probed for his involvement in several casino lending businesses. Matillano, however, was quick to clarify that Basar’s sacking as one of the CIDO team leaders, has nothing to do with allegations that Lacson’s men are now being persecuted by the present PNP leadership.

"Marami naman ngayon ang mga taga PAOCTF na naka-assign dito at wala namang problema dahil sa nagtratrabaho naman sila ng maayos. (There are many from PAOCTF assigned here, but we have no problem, they are doing their jobs well," Matillano said. He added that Basar’s sacking was in line with his campaign to rid the CIDG of scalawags.

At least 200 former members of the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) have recently been reassigned to various posts outside of Metro Manila, a move by the PNP leadership that has gained flak from Lacson and his camp.

Basar, according to Matillano claimed that the vehicles discovered parked at his condominium were loaned vehicles from Casino players.

"We are also investigating him for his alleged involvement to illegal drugs after one of the vehicles discovered parked at his condo unit was a car which was formerly owned by an arrested drug suspect to transport illegal drugs in Metro Manila,"  Matillano said.