Reyes assures no whitewash in probe of 'corrupt' trainors

By Erly C. Garcia

First there was the issue on bribe money. Then hazing. Now, the training instructors of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the region are in hot water for alleged abuse and corruption.

Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 director Doroteo Reyes II already ordered the investigation of Senior Insp. Manuel Serra and his subordinates PO3 Roy Castro and PO2 Genesis Reynaldo relative to the complaint of the the 426 new policemen who recently completed their PNP modified Special Counter-Insurgency Operation Unit Training (SCOUT) in Camp Mosqueda, Jordan, Guimaras.

The complaining policemen belonging to the Makilas Class alleged the three training instructors collected money from the trainees for projects and activities that did not materialize.

They claimed that Serra collected from each of them P800—P500 for the aviation gas of the helicopter that they would use and 300 for their subsistence allowance—as payment for the Air to Ground Operations (AGOS) which was part of their training module.

However, to the surprise of the trainees the AGOS was never held.

The complainants also claimed that Serra authorized Castro and Reynaldo to collect P75 from each of them supposedly for the rental of a scuba diving equipment in Boracay Island.

But the cops said they never got to use the equipment, they were merely taught the “basics”.

The cops also alleged that Serra made them pay for the ammunitions they used during the duration of their training. A 55.6 mm, 9 mm or 45 mm bullet was sold to them at P25 each.

They also alleged that Serra thru PO1 Ryan Orleans collected from each of them P500 for their new camouflage which until now were not given to them.

The class further claimed that Serra ordered their class president and treasurer to deduct P300 from their class fund every payday from October 30 to December 15 last year supposedly for a class project. They graduated last December 2004 but they had no idea about the said class project.

When reached by the media Serra denied the accusations but refused to answer the allegations hurled against them.

He said he would only issue a statement when formal charges have already been filed against him.

Reyes for his part assured that there would be no whitewash in the investigation.