Ex-PNP officials in ghost procurement get 40 years

January 8, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines —  The Sandiganbayan has sentenced five former ranking officials of the Philippine National Police to up to 40 years of imprisonment for graft in connection with the fictitious or “ghost” repair and procurement of spare parts for the PNP’s armored vehicles from 2007 to 2008.

In a 265-page decision promulgated on Dec. 11, 2025 but uploaded on the Sandiganbayan website only on Tuesday, the anti-graft court’s Fourth Division found five former officials of the PNP Logistics Support Service-Bids and Awards Committee (LSS BAC) guilty of four counts of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Sentenced to six up to ten years of imprisonment for each count of the offense or a total of 24 to 40 years were:

former LSS BAC chairman Col. Emmanuel Ojeda; former vice-chairman Col. Reuel Leverne Labrado; former assistant chief for Administrative and Resources Management Division (ARMD) and LSS purchasing officer Lt. Col. Josefina Dumanew; and LSS BAC members  Maj. Analee Forro and MSgt. Victor Puddao.

Meanwhile, found guilty of two counts each of graft were former LSS inspection officer Lt. Col. Warlito Tubon and non-uniformed personnel (NUP) supply accountable officer Eulito Fuentes.

Also found guilty of one count each of graft were former LSS BAC member Lt. Col. Henry Duque and former property inspector for the Directorate for Comptrollership NUP Alex Barrameda.

They were likewise sentenced to six up to ten years of imprisonment for each count of the offense.

All of those convicted were also perpetually disqualified from holding public office and to indemnify the government a total of P83.897 million in civil liability.

The court, on the other hand, acquitted former PNP chief Avelino Razon Jr., former Directorate for Comptrollership Management Division acting chief Lt. Col. Rainier Espina, former PNP Accounting Division chief Antonio Retrato and several private suppliers of graft and malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents “for failure of the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.”

Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2013, the cases stemmed from the allegedly anomalous transactions amounting to P397.58 million relating to the supposed repair and maintenance of 28 units of V-150 light armored vehicles of the PNP in 2007 to 2008.

The ombudsman said the accused PNP officials made it appear that they purchased spare parts, engines, and transmission assemblies for the repair and maintenance of the vehicles when in fact there was no actual purchase nor delivery of the items.

Instead, the accused PNP officials, in collusion with the suppliers, falsified supporting documents such as the invitation to bid, minutes of bidding, recommendation of award, purchase order, delivery receipts as well as certifications of inspection and acceptance, the court noted.

Meanwhile, the National Police Commission (Napolcom) is investigating retired Brig. Gen. Jezebel Imelda Medina, former director of the PNP Health Service for possible corruption – which surfaced as a result of other issues being linked to her. – Emmanuel Tupas