Whistleblower Senior Supt. Rafael Santiago, Jr. yesterday dropped another bomb against former Philippine National Police chief now Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr., saying the former PNP head raked in millions of pesos from illegal mining and jueteng.

Santiago, who earlier admitted that he and his men switched election returns at the House of Representatives to ensure the victory of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2004, claimed that Ebdane and National Capital Regional Police Office Director Alan Purisima were partners in illegal mining activities in Zambales. He said Ebdane used only “trusted men” in illegal mining operations in his province.

In a text message sent to reporters, Santiago claimed that Purisima also knew of Ebdane’s plan to rig the presidential elections in 2004.

“Purisima and I were really close to Ebdane. He took care of us,” Santiago said.

“When Ebdane was chief of the Philippine National Police in 2004, Purisima was his most trusted man in Police Anti Crime Emergency Response (Pacer) and National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTAF),” he added.

He claimed that Ebdane would hold office in Pacer to oversee sensitive, highly classified missions. Purisima, then the Regional Director of PRO-3, received jueteng payola and raked in millions from illegal mining activities.

“Magkasama sila na kumita sa mining operations sa Zambales, kaya nga ako tinanggal para makopo nila,” Santiago said.

He said Ebdane’s former NAKTAF operatives are on a mission to search and destroy all whistleblower policemen, including him.

Meantime, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Ebdane is being investigated for his involvement in the alleged switching of election returns  at the Batasan Pambansa.

Aside from Ebdane, former Special Action Force director Chief Supt. Marcelino Franco Jr. and Roel Bello will be summoned in the joint investigation of the Department of Justice and Commission on Elections.

She said the three are now technically considered respondents in the preliminary investigation of the joint DOJ-Comelec panel. She explained that the affidavit submitted by Santiago is already considered a complaint-affidavit for preliminary investigation of the five-man joint committee chaired by Prosecutor General Claro Arellano.