MENDOZA RAPPED FOR GOLF WITH SUSPECTED DRUG LORD

CEBU CITY -- Talk about a bogey. Because he played golf with a suspected
drug lord, Philippine National Police chief and incoming Transportation
Secretary Leandro Mendoza now finds himself in a sand trap of his own making.

The Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas on Monday recommended the filing
of administrative charges against Mendoza and six other police and military
officers for playing golf at the Cebu Country Club with Wellington Lim last
November -- at a time when a congressional investigation had linked Lim to
big-time drug operations in Cebu.

The Ombudsman's fact-finding showed that contrary to Mendoza's earlier
claims that he only happened to meet Lim at the golf course, it was Lim who
actually "sponsored" the game.

Visayas Ombudsman Director Virginia Santiago said that Mendoza's act of
playing with a suspected drug lord who was a subject of a pending
investigation was "degrading to the integrity of the Philippine National
Police and would possibly lead to mistrust of our people to our law
enforcement (sic)."

She recommended that Mendoza face administrative charges for "conduct . . .
prejudicial to the best interest of the service."

The recommendation came after Santiago conducted a formal fact-finding
inquiry over reports that high-ranking officials in the PNP were reportedly
seen playing golf with Lim.

At that time, Lim and his brother Peter were being investigated by the
House committee on dangerous drugs for their alleged involvement in the
illegal drug trade in this city.

Santiago said there was probable cause to charge Mendoza along with top
officials of the PNP and the Philippine Navy.

Mendoza's golf cronies facing the prospect of administrative charges
included Camp Crame officials Thomas Cantion, Rex Piad and Carlito Dimaano;
Deputy Director Oscar Calderon of the Intelligence and Detective Management
Office; Philippine Navy Commodore George Uy of the Navy; and Supt. Dennis
Canoy, chief of the Central Visayas Regional Police Office Comptroller
Division.

Mendoza arrived in Cebu on Nov. 12 to stand as sponsor to the silver
wedding anniversary of one of the top local police officials in the
province. Earlier in the day, however, he was seen along with his men
playing golf with Lim.

Canoy, during the fact-finding hearing, testified that the meeting of
Mendoza and Lim was only "accidental" -- both having arrived on the same
flight from Manila.

Canoy also attested that a certain Jojo Alquizola, a club member, was the
one who paid for the golf game, "subject to reimbursement."

Country Club manager Carmen Borja refused to appear at the Ombudsman
hearing, claiming lack of knowledge. But she did furnish the anti-graft
office with copies of the score cards of the group of Mendoza and that of Lim.

Santiago said the score cards showed that it was Lim's signature which
appeared in the score cards for Mendoza's group. Also, the food bills
incurred by Canoy, Calderon and Uy at the Country Club while playing golf
were "care of" Lim.