THE National Police chief, Director General Avelino Razon Jr., on Monday branded as a “demolition job” the claim that the police were behind the interview last week of a man claiming he was renegade Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon on television.

Razon said the allegations were being floated to destroy the image of the National Police even as he denied the claim of the supposed fugitive junior officer that he was paid by the police to misrepresent Faeldon by voice.

On Monday morning, the man identified only as “Efren” said in a radio interview that he was ordered and paid by the National Police-Intelligence Group to mimic Faeldon and have himself interviewed on television.

Razon said the allegation of the man was “impossible” as the National Police has no business involving itself in a disinformation campaign.

“I would like to put on record, hindi po totoo iyan. Kaduda-duda ang story niya, that’s incredible,” he told reporters.

The man alleged that he was promised P300,000 to misrepresent Faeldon but was only given P35,000. He said the payoff was made at the “White House” inside Camp Crame and infront of IG director, Chief Supt. Dante Ferrer, and the Bulacan police commander, Senior Supt. Allen Bantolo.

“The ‘White House.’ Ito po iyong official residence ng chief PNP, wala pong nangyaring bayaran, nagpapatawa ang taong iyan,” Razon said.

He said Ferrer is abroad on official mission while Bantolo is busy with his job in Bulacan.

Still, Razon ordered the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to investigate the issue, hunt the man and find out his motive in making the allegations.

In the interview, the man who said he was Faeldon linked Sen. Gregorio Honasan in the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny. He also said that he would not surrender so long as President Arroyo is in power. Days after the interview, Drilon however admitted that he may have interviewed the wrong person.

ADB’s 2007 loans highest in 41 years

THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved loans totaling $10.1 billion last year, or a 36-percent increase over the total approved in 2006. It is the highest in the bank’s 41-year history.

OMBUDSMAN Merceditas Gutierrez on Monday approved the filing of criminal and administrative charges against two city mayors and 19 other government officials in connection with the controversial lamppost project in Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu cities.

THE Philippine Medical Association (PMA) has appealed to the health department to pursue the investigation into the rectal surgery scandal at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) in Cebu City.

THE command judge advocate of the Army recommended on Monday the trial by general court martial of a division commander and a sergeant for violations of the Articles of War.

A TAIWANESE who allegedly runs a big-time drug trafficking operations in the country has been arrested by a joint team of drug-enforcement agents in Parańaque City over the weekend.

THE National Police chief, Director General Avelino Razon Jr., on Monday branded as a “demolition job” the claim that the police were behind the interview last week of a man claiming he was renegade Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon on television.

THE near encounter early this month between members of the Antieconomic Crimes Task Force (AECTF) of the National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and members of the Presidential Antismuggling Group (PASG) will not stop the unit from running after smugglers.