4 PNP generals may face poll raps

MANILA, Philippines - Four Philippine National Police generals could face charges of electioneering or violating the PNP’s ethical standards for meeting supporters of Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel Roxas II last Saturday, an official said yesterday.

Director Generoso Cerbo Jr., chief of the PNP directorate for intelligence; and Chief Superintendents Renier Idio, Bernardo Diaz and Ronald Santos have been ordered to explain by Friday how they came to be present in a hotel where Roxas supporters were gathered, PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor said.

Idio is Cagayan Valley’s police chief while Santos is the deputy regional director for administration of the Southern Tagalog police and Diaz of the Western Visayas police. All four generals are members of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1984, which adopted Roxas as their mistah or classmate.

The four police generals were seen with retired police general Marcelo Garbo Jr., a supporter of Roxas, and with Thea Reyes, a staff of Roxas.

Mayor said the PNP is investigating whether the generals’ presence at the hotel would fall under the definition of electioneering. The generals are also being investigated for violating the PNP’s rules against solicitation, patronage and asking for assistance from politicians.

Mayor, quoting PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez, said the generals will have to explain because “these are individual actions. They should be the ones to explain,” not the organization.

He reiterated the PNP’s policy for its 160,000 to remain apolitical and non-partisan to ensure honest, orderly and peaceful elections.

Mayor, however, admitted that police generals adopting politicians into their class was not included in the provisions of the law.

Santos told The STAR he was with his family at a mall in Cubao when he was called to join the other generals for lunch, adding that he had no idea about any meeting.