Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa (Screen grab/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Following President Rodrigo Duterte’s order, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is seeking a probe on the alleged importation and sale of AK-47 rifles to communist rebels.
Dela Rosa has filed Resolution No. 811, which was made public on Wednesday, asking the appropriate Senate committee to conduct an inquiry into the issue with the aid of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“The sale of these rifles to NPA (New People’s Army) rebels with the aid of unscrupulous law enforcement agents and government employees is alarming,” his resolution read.
“Despite the pendency of graft and corrupt criminal cases against alleged perpetrators, there is a need to determine the means and method exploited that enabled private individuals and corporations to sell firearms to the communist-terrorist group,” it added.
The probe likewise aims to review and strengthen laws and policies on issuing and granting firearm licenses and permits, Dela Rosa added.
During his final State of the Nation Address (Sona) held on July 26, the President directed Dela Rosa to look into the alleged illegal importation of AK-47 rifles which were supposedly sold to communist rebels.
Duterte named a police colonel allegedly involved in the importation and sale.
In Dela Rosa’s resolution, he noted that a certain Isidro Lozada, owner of the Caraga Security Agency, allegedly imported and registered over 1,000 AK-47 rifles with the PNP despite irregularities in the application of permits and licenses
Lozada allegedly used several names of corporations to facilitate the purchase and registration of firearms.
Dela Rosa noted that 44 of the over 1,000 rifles were recovered by the military in clashes with rebels in Caraga region and Western Mindanao region.
The Office of the Ombudsman then charged several individuals, including several police officials, with falsification and graft.
The Ombudsman likewise ordered the dismissal of service of several police officials.