Razon: I surrendered to prove my innocence

MANILA -- Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Avelino Razon Jr. said he immediately surrendered himself before the Sandiganbayan for him to be able to prove his innocence. Razon and his co-defendants former PNP comptrollers Geary Barias and Eliseo dela Paz surrendered just hours after the court issued an arrest warrant against them and 30 others for graft and malversation charges. "Nung nalaman pa lang po namin sa balita na kami ay na-issuehan ng warrant, kami po ay voluntarily nang nagpa-submit sa jurisdiction ng Sandiganbayan. Hindi na po namin hinintay na kami ay arestuhin," Razon said in an interview with ANC Wednesday afternoon. While noting that he has "full faith and confidence" in the country's justice system and legal processes, he said he is ready to face the charges against him and prove his innocence. "Kami po'y haharap sa mga charges na ito. We have full faith and confidence in our court na mabigyan ng pagkakataon...na mapatunayan na di kami nagkasala," Razon said. "Kaya kami po ay di nag-dalawang isip at kami ay nag-surrender...kahit wala pa mismong warrant of arrest na pinapakita sa amin," he added. Meanwhile, Razon also defended the allegedly anomalous repairs of V150 light armored vehicles in 2007. Investigators had said that under Razon, there were irregularities in the bidding process for the project worth around P400 million. The respondents allegedly got direct private suppliers for the project which received unwarranted benefits and undue preference since they failed to deliver the goods and services at the time of payment. Razon said, "Meron pong mga accredited suppliers ang PNP na sila ang nag-undertake ng repair nitong armored vehicles. At yan pong mga V150s na yan, 28 in all, were all repaired." "Di po totoo yung balita na yan ay ghost repair. Na-repair po lahat yan at nagamit ng PNP." -- With ANC