Berroya is new PNP intelligence chief

Senior Superintendent Reynaldo Berroya took over as intelligence chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in ceremonies at Camp Crame in Quezon City yesterday.

But former PNP chief Panfilo Lacson called on President Arroyo yesterday to immediately recall the appointment of his nemesis so as not to give the "wrong signals" to the citizenry, especially the Filipino-Chinese community.

"With Berroya as the head of the PNP’s Intelligence Group, I wonder how the PNP leadership could get the trust and confidence of kidnap victims," Lacson said in an official statement.

However, Berroya told reporters he will investigate Lacson’s alleged involvement in organized crime and intensify police counter intelligence and intelligence operations.

Berroya said the Intelligence Group (IG) supports the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group’s investigation on the kidnapping and murder of public relations man Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito, last Nov. 24.

Lacson said Berroya’s appointment to a highly sensitive post is a "mockery of the entire police service" because the police officer has been convicted of kidnapping.

"It’s like appointing a convicted rapist and child molester to head the Department of Social Welfare and Development," he said.

Berroya was jailed for life in 1996 after he was convicted of the kidnapping of Taiwanese businessman Jack Chow based on evidence Lacson and his men had gathered.

Berroya was also dismissed from the police service and spent the following year in the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa as a convicted criminal.

At the time, Berroya headed Task Force Lawin, while Lacson was commander of Task Force Habagat, which were operating units of the defunct Presidential Anti-Crime Commission under then Vice President Joseph Estrada.

On Dec. 12, 1997, the Supreme Court reversed the lower court’s decision after finding on appeal that there was not enough evidence against Berroya.

After Berroya was reinstated in 1999, Lacson, who was already PNP chief, assigned him as anti-narcotics officer to the Butuan City police station.

Lacson later dismissed Berroya from the police service after he was said to have gone on absence without leave. Berroya resurfaced only after the ouster of President Joseph Estrada last Jan. 20.

Lacson is running for senator as an independent, but is allied with the opposition Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Puwersa ng Masa.

Berroya replaced as head of intelligence Chief Superintendent Romulo Sales, who was named deputy chief for administration of the National Capital Region Police Office.

The turnover ceremonies was led by IG officer-in-charge Senior Superintendent Jaime Caringal at the Group’s new building at Camp Crame.

Present at the turnover ceremonies were Berroya’s classmates from the Philippine Military Academy Class 1969, as well as Col. Victor Corpus, chief of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.