Ex-PNP chief’s conviction on rubber boat scam upheld

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has upheld the graft conviction of former Philippine National Police chief director general Jesus Verzosa and five other retired ranking PNP officials in connection with the P131.55-million rubber boat scam in 2009.

In a 23-page resolution promulgated last July 19, the court’s Third Division said Verzosa and his five co-accused former police officials failed to raise any new argument in their respective motions for reconsideration that would warrant the reversal of its June 25, 2021 decision that found them guilty of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

“This court noted that in the motions for reconsideration filed by the accused-movants, much of the issues posed are mere reiterations of previous arguments raised. These same issues were already sufficiently and substantially addressed by this court and further discussions would be, at most, duplications,” the Third Division said.

Earlier convicted with Verzosa were former PNP deputy director general Benjamin Belarmino Jr., former PNP bids and awards committee chairman Deputy Director General Jefferson Soriano, former PNP-BAC vice chairman Police Director Luizo Ticman, former PNP-BAC member Police Director Romeo Hilomen and former PNP Maritime Group director and PNP-BAC ex-officio member Police Chief Superintendent Villamor Bumanglag.

They were sentenced to a minimum of six years to a maximum of eight years imprisonment with the accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

The Third Division, on the other hand, had acquitted former PNP-BAC member Police Director Ronald Roderos due to insufficient evidence to prove his guilt, while the case against another former PNP-BAC member, Police Chief Superintendent Herold Ubalde, was dismissed due to his death.

Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2013, the case stemmed from the PNP’s procurement of 75 police rubber boats (PRBs) and 18 spare engines or outboard motors (OMBs) from three alleged “technically and financially” unqualified suppliers, namely EnviroAire Inc., Geneve SA Philippines and Bay Industrial Philippines Corp.

The ombudsman said the procurement also did not undergo public bidding, in violation of RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.

The ombudsman added that the procured boats were defective and incompatible with the standard specifications earlier recommended by the National Police Commission (Napolcom), thereby “causing undue injury to the government.”

In its latest resolution, the Third Division maintained that Verzosa could not escape liability for the procurement of the functionally incompatible boats and motors, as he was a member of the Napolcom, which adopted the standard specifications for the items to be procured.

The court also reiterated that Verzosa approved the payments to the three suppliers despite the absence of sea trial for the delivered items.