Kumakalat ang paninira laban kay National Police Commission Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer, Alberto Bernardo, na siyang naghayag na ang mga nasa likod nito ay pinangungunahan ng mga tinatawag na “narco cops” sa Philippine National Police (PNP) na dati nang kinasuhan dahil sa kanilang mga kaugnayan sa kalakaran ng iligal na droga.
Sa liham ni Bernardo, na kanyang ipinasa kay Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. nitong Huwebes (June 13), sinasabi nitong ang mga paninira sa kanya ng narco cops ay may layuning mapasibak siya sa kanyang posisyon at matanggal sa ahensiya.
“It has to be underscored that the issues raised above reported were the subject of poison letters that have been instigated by the PNP officials involved in illegal drugs. Said poison letters were sent to Office of the President, CoA (Commission on Audit) main office and, different news correspondents who published the same and other parties interested to oust the undersigned,” saad ng sulat ni Bernardo kay Sec. Abalos.
Bukod aniya sa “poison letter”, bahagi nito ang iulat na siya ay ay nag-file na ng ‘optional retirement’ sa Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) sa kanyang edad na 64, na ‘di ipinaaalam sa tanggapan ni Abalos. Gayundin, siya ay tumatayo parin Commissioner at Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer (VCEO) ng NAPOLCOM sa kabila ng kanyang “retirement” at pagkakagasta ng malaki sa mga pagkain na ‘di naaayon sa mga CoA Circulars.
“The undersigned has reasons to believe that the repetitious publication and raising the said issues without taking into account our replies to COA was intentional and malicious. The same was purposely made to malign if not compelling and pressing the undersigned to vacate or give up his position as Commissioner and VCEO so that those individuals and personalities who were deprived or stopped from their illegal activities by reason of his leadership can venture as usual,” paliwanag ni Bernardo sa kanyang liham.
“Further, the undersigned wanted to point out that these same issues which were already settled with CoA arose again during the time of deliberation of the administrative cases being handled by the NAPOLCOM and the filing of criminal complaints with the DOJ against PNP officers and members involved in the 990 kilos of shabu,” dagdag pa ng opisyal.
Ayon kay Bernardo, ang kanyang posisyon sa ahensiya ay nagbadya din ng dagdag na panganib sa kanyang buhay, bunga ng Presidential Directive No. PBBM-2024-83521 na pumigil sa pagbili ng mga ‘Body Worn Camera (BWC)’ nagkakahalaga ng Eight Hundred Sixty-Five Million Pesos (P865,000,000).
Sa ngayon, aniya, base sa PNP records, mayroon ang kapulisan na body-worn cameras na Huawei, UHF radios (Hytera), VHF lowband radios (Tianhai), conventional repeaters (Hytera) and trunked repeaters (Hytera) na ginagamit ng mga PNP units nationwide, na gawang China.
Sa sulat ni Bernardo, nilinaw niya na ‘di siya nag-retire kundi ay pinili lamang niyang huwag nang ituloy ang paghuhulog sa kanyang membership sa GSIS. At ang kanyang appointment sa NAPOLCOM ay may ‘fixed term’ na anim na taon, alinsunod sa Section ng R.A. 69751, as amended by R.A. 85512. Kung baga, aniya, siya nalipat mula bilang ‘career service position’ sa non-career position na may fixed term hanggang March ng 2028.”
Dagdag pa ni Bernardo siya ay ginagabayan ng Section 9, Chapter 2, Book V of Executive Order No. 2923, o’ kilala bilang Administrative Code of 1987 at Section 6 ng P.D. No. 8074 na kilala naman bilang Civil Service Law na nagtatalaga sa kanya bilang mula career service sa non-career service. Sa ilalim ng Section 3 of RA No. 8291 o’ Government Service Insurance System Act ng 1997, ang membership sa GSIS ay “compulsory for all government employees receiving compensation who have not reached the compulsory retirement age, irrespective of employment status, except members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police and contractual who have no employer and employee relationship with their agencies.”
“All told, the undersigned as one appointed in the non-career service position with a fixed term of office, his non-continuance of membership with the GSIS and availing his benefits therefrom as qualified member for more than fifteen (15) years has no legal effect in his current position as Commissioner. To interpret otherwise is to violate the provisions of the Constitution and other related laws (Administrative Code and Civil Service Law) on appointment and applicable jurisprudence, as it shortens the term of office and the security of tenure in accordance with the pronouncement of the Supreme Court in the case of Canonizado,” paliwanag pa ni Bernardo.
Sa mga alegasyon ng labis na pag-gastos sa pagkain, naglabas na aniya ang CoA ng kalasag na ang mga ito ay “properly addressed and already settled with the COA12.
“The said CoA Circulars No. 2023-004 that prescribed additional documentary requirements was nonetheless recalled by CoA on March 14, 2024 through COA Circular No. 2024-00413 due to numerous issues and concerns relative to the updated documentary requirements. Thus CoA, suspended its application pending issuance of revised guidelines. Despite its suspension, as a matter of courtesy and submission to CoA, this Office accordingly submitted its reply. Considering the issues raised on the alleged substantial expenses for meals was properly addressed and the required documentary requirements were submitted, said issue was no longer part of the report of CoA during the exit briefing held on April 23, 2024,” pagdidiin ni Bernardo sa kanyang sulat kay Sec. Abalos.
ATTY EDNA B. DEL MORAL
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