Ombudsman orders probe of PNP officials over missing AK47s
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales on Thursday ordered the preventive suspension for six months of ranking officials of the Philippine National Police over the 1,004 missing high-powered AK47 firearms allegedly sold to the New People’s Army (NPA).
Ordered suspended were Chief Superintendents Raul Petrasanta and Regino Catiis, Senior Superintendents Eduardo Acierto and Allan Parreno, Superintendent Nelson Bautista, Chief Inspectors Ricky Sumalde, Ricardo Zapata Jr. and Rodrigo Benedicto Sarmiento, Senior Police Officers 1 Eric Tan and Randy de Sesto.
Non-uniformed personnel Nora Pirote, Sol Bargan and Enrique dela Cruz were also included in the suspension.
Police officials Petrasanta, Acierto, Parreno, Bautista and Zapata were suspended in a separate order, which included PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima, over the questionable contract with Werfast Documentary Agency for the delivery of firearm license cards.
In approving the preventive suspension, the Ombudsman said “the bulk of material evidence in the custody of the PNP, and given the power and authority attached to the respondents’ positions, there is strong probability that they may influence witnesses or tamper with any evidence material to the case.”
Under Section 24 of Republic Act No. 6770 (Ombudsman Act of 1989), the Ombudsman or the Deputies “may preventively suspend any officer or employee…if in her/his judgment the evidence of guilt is strong, and (a) the charge against such officer or employee involves dishonesty, oppression or grave misconduct or neglect in the performance of duty; (b) the charges would warrant removal from the service; or (c) the respondent’s continued stay in office may prejudice the case filed against him.”
PNP Firearms and Explosives Office (PNP-FEO) officials Director Gil Meneses, Dir. Napoleon Estilles, Chief Superintendent Tomas Rentoy II were excluded from the suspension order because they have already retired from service.
The Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices (OMB-MOLEO) initiated the investigation.
Records showed that based on the report by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), four private security agencies and a mining company successfully applied and were issued firearms licenses by the PNP-FEO using falsified and incomplete documentary requirements.
Based on the PNP-FEO database, 1,004 licensed firearms were released through the submission of incomplete and/or falsified applications submitted by Isidro Lozada, owner of Caraga Security Agency.
Lozada purchased the firearms from Twin Pines Inc. which, in turn, facilitated and submitted the falsified and/or incomplete license applications to the PNP-FEO.
Despite irregularities in the applications, licenses were processed and approved by PNP-FEO officials and personnel.
Further investigation showed that Caraga Security Agency’s License to Operate had expired on Sept. 30, 2012.
The CIDG was also able to validate information that firearms matching the serial numbers of the licensed AK47s issued to the security agencies and mining company were recovered from encounters between the military and NPA rebels in the Caraga and Western Mindanao regions.
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