Verzosa wants dismissal of graft case

FORMER police general Jesus Verzosa is pressing for the dismissal of the graft case filed against him over the procurement of the supposedly defective rubber boats in 2009.

Verzosa said that the case should be dismissed because the only evidence against him in the case of the P131.55- million rubber boat scam is the presence of his signature on the procurement documents.

The former police official said that Supreme Court had already ruled that “there should be other grounds than the mere signature or approval . . . to sustain a conspiracy charge and conviction.”

Verzosa and seven other former members of the bids and awards committee of the Philippine National Police are facing graft charges for allegedly conspiring in the purchase of outboards motors and rubber boats from private companies Enviroaire, Inc., Geneve SA Philippines, Inc. and Bay Industrial Corp.

According to Verzosa, he was only implicated in the graft case “for simply affixing his signature on the documents.

He added that the Office of the Ombudsman merely made “the sweeping statement that he was part of a conspiracy.”

Verzosa maintained that he was not a part of the procurement process and that his signature was only an indication of his good faith and reliance to his subordinates.

He added that he does not need to check each and every detail of the procurement process of the rubber boats, which the Ombudsman found to be defective.

He claimed that “there is no positive and conclusive evidence” which would show that he intentionally participated in the crime.

“The mere fact that the head of the agency affixed his signature on the documents does not all at once establish a conspiracy even if such signature be necessary in the consummation of the alleged crime,” he further stated.

JOHN CONSTANTINE G. CORDON