On July 2011, then DILG Secretary Robredo ordered a probe of the PNP's purchase of defective rubber boats after discovery of the second hand helicopter scams. The outcome of these investigations led to the filing of charges against those involved in the purchases. Among those charged with criminal graft liabilities was PNP General Jefferson Soriano who was a member/chair of the NHQ-BAC. Enviro-aire, the supplier of outboard motors for the defective rubber boats is owned by Tyrone Ong and Cedric lee, both business partners of Soriano in Colossal Mining Corporation and Strategic and Comprehensive Consultants, Inc. (SCCI) since 2004.

Following his assumption as city mayor of Tuguegarao City in 2013, state prosecutors appealed for his immediate 90-day suspension for the second-hand helicopter scam (SB-12-CRM-0164). This first suspension order was accepted by Soriano on January26, 2014. While still serving his first suspension, a second suspension order was issued by the Sandiganbayan Third Division on February 28, 2014 for his involvement with the defective rubber boats purchase (SB-12-CRM-0130) which was not implemented even after he reassumed office in May 2014. On August 20, 2014 the Ombudsman ordered his dismissal as city mayor for an administrative case stemming from his short stint as city mayor (OMB-L-A-13-0449) and ordered that another graft and corruption case be filed with the Sandiganbayan (OMB-L-C-13-0396, now SB-15-CRM-0121 to 0122).

Despite his dismissal from government service, the decision to suspend Soriano as city mayor for the second time was reiterated by the Sandiganbayan on October 2, 2014 after Soriano’s motion was dismissed by the Supreme Court. The graft court ordered then:

“the abovementioned accused is hereby ordered to CEASE and DESIST from performing and/or exercising the functions, duties and privileges of his position as Mayor of Tuguegarao City , Cagayan, or any position he may now or hereafter be holding”

Unfortunately on April 16, 2015, the Court of Appeals’ Special Eight Division (CA-G.R. Sp. No. 137209) modified the dismissal order of the Ombudsman and again, General Soriano retook his post on April 20, 2015 and up to this day, the Provincial Governor has not implemented the order to suspend him as mayor.

Additionally, this petition also requests that the state prosecutors submit as evidence that General Jefferson Soriano is a business partner of the owners of Enviro-aire when the purchases were made as ascertained by a news report of ABS-CBN in January 2015 through SEC documents (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/nation/metro-manila/01/29/14/documents-bare-cedric-lees-ties-ex-pnp-officials) and SCCI as reported in an article (http://www.philstar.com/business/710183/firm-ly-behind-ombudsman).