Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas slammed Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Dionardo Carlos for attempting to use the PNP helicopter for private affairs, calling it an "abuse of power".
On Monday, Feb. 21, a PNP Airbus H-125 helicopter sent to pick up Carlos from Balesin Island crashed in Real Town, Quezon Province.
Carlos stayed at the Balesin Island luxury resort on Sunday, Feb. 20, for some “private time", according to his statement on Feb. 22.
"Chopper na mula sa pera ng taumbayan pero ginagamit para sa private time ng PNP chief–ganito ang lantarang halimbawa ng abuso sa kapangyarihan (A chopper paid for by taxpayers' money was used for the PNP chief’s private time– this is a blatant example of abuse of power)," said Brosas in a press statement on Wednesday, Feb 23.
According to Carlos, his originally scheduled transport had been delayed hence the need to deploy a PNP helicopter to facilitate his transport.
"Yung sasakyan ng local government units (LGU) at departamento, for official use only. Bakit biglang may exception sa PNP chief? (LGU and department vehicles are for official use only. Why is there suddenly an exception for the PNP chief?) Administrative Order No. 239 and PNP memo circulars are very clear in prohibiting the use of government vehicles for personal purposes and errands," Brosas noted.
Meanwhile, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año has absolved Carlos of any responsibility relating to the crash.
Año said on Feb. 22 that, since Carlos is the PNP Chief, it was rightful for him to use the PNP helicopter “to attend forthcoming official duty".
Allen Noel Ona, a police patrolman who was aboard the helicopter, died.
The two officers piloting the helicopter, Dexter Vitug and Michael Melloria, sustained injuries in the crash and are currently undergoing treatment in Infanta, Quezon.