THE Sandiganbayan has ordered the dismissal of all pending criminal charges against former Police Senior Supt. (Lt. Col.) Edgar Paatan on account of his passing on January 25, 2025.
Paatan was named co-defendant of former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and former PNP chief Jesus Verzosa in the P104.98 million second-hand choppers deal intended for use by the PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) in 2009, and of former PNP chief Avelino Razon in the P397.6 million procurement of spare parts for the PNP’s armored vehicles in 2007.
He was a member of the PNP National Headquarters-Bids and Awards Committee that reviewed the said contracts when he was still in active service.
He was among the defendants acquitted by the Sandiganbayan of any liability in the 2009 chopper procurement contract in the court’s decision issued on August 16, 2024.
In its minute resolution dated July 8, 2025, the anti-graft court’s Fourth Division noted the submission of the Office of the Special Prosecutor of an authenticated Certificate of Death from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) stating that Paatan died while in confinement at the Baguio General Hospital over complications related to a liver problem.
“Considering the death of accused Edgar Bawayan Paatan, which occurred while these cases were still pending and before any final judgment could be rendered, these criminal cases against him are hereby ordered dismissed,” the court said.
The ruling was signed by Associate Justices Michael Frederick L. Musngi, Lorifel Lacap Pahimna, and J. Ermin Ernest Louie R. Miguel.
