Razon attends bail hearing on graft case

MANILA, Philippines - Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Avelino Razon Jr. appeared before the Sandiganbayan again yesterday to attend a hearing on the petitions for bail that he and 16 other co-accused in a graft charge for their alleged involvement in the ghost repair of light armored vehicles (LAVs) in 2007 and 2008.

Ombudsman prosecutors presented four witnesses during the proceedings in an effort to establish that the evidence they have is strong enough to warrant denying the respondents’ bail plea.

Razon and 22 other PNP officials and personnel along with a number of private respondents were indicted in July for their alleged involvement in the P385-million ghost repair and alleged fictitious purchase of spare parts for 28 units V-150 LAVS five years ago.

Among those presented by the prosecution as witnesses yesterday were representatives of the Department of Budget and Management, the National Police Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PNP.

The Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division, chaired by Associate Justice Gregory Ong, scheduled the bail hearings from Oct. 7 to Oct. 10.