Sandiganbayan upholds conviction of 8 cops in P397-M ghost deals

MANILA, Philippines – The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan has upheld the conviction of eight former personnel, mostly officials, of the Philippine National Police’s Logistics Support Services over a 2007 ghost procurement of spare parts and repair services for armored vehicles worth over P397 million.

In its ruling, the 4th Division of the Sandiganbayan denied the motions for reconsideration submitted by former police colonels Emmanuel Ojeda and Reuel Leverne Labrado, lieutenant colonels Josefina Dumanew and Warlito Tubon, major Analee Forro, master sergeant Victor Puddao, and civilian personnel Eulito Fuentes and Alex Barrameda.

Ojeda was the former chair of the LSS bids and awards committee; Labrado was vice chair; Dumanew was assistant chief for administrative and resources management and LSS purchasing officer; Forro was a BAC member; Tubon was inspection officer; Puddao was a member; Fuentes was supply accountable officer; and Barrameda was property inspector for the the PNP directorate for comptrollership.

Ojeda, Labrado, Dumanew, Forro and Puddao were found guilty on all four counts of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. All eight were sentenced to six to 10 years in prison for each count.

But in the 37-page resolution on Monday, March 16, the court cleared Police Lieutenant Colonel Henry Duque, a member of the committee, and set aside his conviction on one graft count, citing lack of participation. 

Duque argued that he joined the BAC only on October 8, 2007, after the procurement process had already been completed. While some documents bore his name and signature, he pointed out that the transactions took place from September 20 to 27, 2007, before he became a member, making his involvement impossible.

“The order designating him (Duque) as a member of the BAC only after the actual bidding occurred provides no evidence tying him conclusively to the actual bidding,” read part of the Sandiganbayan decision signed by Associate Justices Michael Frederick Musngi, Lorifel Lacap Pahimna and J. Ermin Ernest Louie Miguel.

The anti-graft court upheld its December 11, 2025 ruling that found those convicted acted in bad faith and manipulated the bidding process.

The first deal involved the purchase of 40 replacement tires for V-150 personnel carriers worth more than P2.7 million, while the second involved the procurement of supplies and spare parts from three suppliers amounting to more than P134 million.

Over P20.8 million was paid to Evans Spare Parts Motorworks Repair and Trading, while about P85 million was paid to Enviro-Aire Incorporated, and P28.39 million to RJP International Trading Construction and General Service.

Prosecutors also said more than P8.7 million worth of supplies were ghost purchases from RKGK Enterprises and Dex-Lan Enterprises, while the fourth covered repair and maintenance contracts worth P48.55 million with Evans, P140.53 million with Enviro-Aire, and P50.53 million with RJP. 

The court said it was proven that the committee rigged the bidding process over their failure to publish notices, leaving out key details in invitations to bid, and skipping required pre-bid and post-qualification steps.

Dumanew, who served as purchasing officer, was found liable for issuing defective procurement documents and certifying completion before delivery, while Tubon, Fuentes and Barrameda were cited for inspecting and confirming receipt of goods later found to be nonexistent.

The Sandiganbayan said that “these acts form an unbroken chain leading to the unlawful disbursement of public funds.”

It added, “The scheme could not have succeeded without the willful cooperation of each accused, whose signatures and certifications constituted indispensable overt acts in furtherance of the common design.

The court, however, removed the P83.9 million civil liability imposed on Ojeda, Labrado, Tubon, Dumanew, Forro, Puddao, Fuentes and Barrameda, saying a review of the evidence “reveals that the factual and legal bases are wanting.”

“It remains undisputed that RJP (one of the firms) received payment despite its complete nondelivery of the required engines and transmissions,” noting that RJP’s representative was acquitted and that “there was neither an allegation nor proof that any of the accused derived pecuniary gain from the disbursements made in favor of RJP.” – Rappler.com