PNP relieves ex-SAF chief over P58.9-M subsistence allowance mess

The Philippine National Police on Tuesday ordered the relief of former Special Action Force chief Director Benjamin Lusad over the supposed unreleased allowance of Special Action Force commandos amounting to P58.849 million.

PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao said he was informed by the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management that the relief order for Lusad and former SAF budget and fiscal officer Senior Superintendent Andre Dizon has already been prepared but will "definitely take effect today."

"[May] relief order si General Lusad at si Andre Dizon para magkaron sila ng sapat na panahon na depensahan ang sarili nila sa kasong isinampa laban sa kanila ng kanlang mga tauhan sa Special Action Force," Bulalacao said.

Lusad is the current chief of the PNP Directorate for Integrated Police Operations in Southern Luzon while Dizon serves as DIPO-SL Administrative and Resource Management Division chief.

Two non-commissioned officers who were named as co-accused in the complaint, Senior Police Officer 2 Maila Bustamante and Senior Police Officer 1 Jack James Irica who are assigned in the PNP-SAF Finance were also relieved from their respective posts.

Bustamante and Irica are currently in the holding unit of the SAF.

Bulalacao said the officers involved were already informed and given a copy of the complaint-affidavit filed  by the complainants.

The PNP Directorate for Comptrollership and Internal Affairs Service has launched an investigation regarding the matter.

"Ngayon nagkaron ng initial investigation ang ating comptrollership. In fact, they are doing a management audit kung papaano yung insidente na 'yon," Bulalacao said.

Former and current SAF personnel filed malversation and plunder complaints against Lusad and other finance officers for allegedly failing to distribute two years' worth of daily additional subsistence allowance amounting to over P58 million. — RSJ, GMA News