Ex-PNP chief Razon surrenders to Sandiganbayan

MANILA, Philippines - Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Avelino Razon Jr. on Wednesday turned himself in to the Sandiganbayan after the anti-graft court issued a warrant for his arrest for the malversation and graft cases filed against him.

Razon went to the anti-graft court's 4th Division in Quezon City hours after the issuance of the warrant of arrest against him for the alleged anomalous repair of several V-150 light armored vehicles (LAVs) in 2007.

Aside from Razon 32 other retired and active officials of the PNP were also issued warrants of arrest based on the same charges. Among those ordered arrested were former police comptrollers Geary Barias and Eliseo de la Paz.

The court said that the warrants of arrest were sent to the addresses of all the accused officials.

The Sandiganbayan's 4th Division found probable cause on the cases of malversation through falsification of documents against the policemen regarding the repair and maintenance of several LAVs.

The alleged anomalous transactions fetched a whopping P400 million, reports said.

The anti-graft court has set no bail for Razon and his co-accused in the four cases including the falsification of documents.

The Office of the Ombudsman filed the charges earlier this year.

PNP spokesman Sr. Supt. Wilben Mayor, meanwhile, said the police organization will serve the warrants of arrest against its officials implicated in the LAV scam.

Mayor said the PNP is mandated to implement a court order as they just follow orders given to the police.