Over 1,000 missing PNP firearms sold to NPA in Mindanao—police exec

MANILA, Philippines – More than 1,000 firearms that went missing at the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters were discovered to have ended up in the hands of the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Mindanao.

Following the discovery is the pending filing of charges before the Office of the Ombudsman against 19 PNP p‎ersonnel, including three retired and four active police generals, over the alleged selling of firearms to the NPA.

Police Director Benjamin Magalong, PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection (CIDG) chief, announced in a press briefing on Thursday that‎ the 1,004 missing firearms were recovered during encounters between the military and NPA rebels in Caraga region and Western Mindanao.

Of the 1,004, only 44 AK-47 rifles have been recovered by the police.

Among those to be charged were Police Director Gil Meneses, of the PNP Civil Security Group; Chief Superintendent Raul Petrasanta, of the Police Regional Office 3; Senior Superintendent Regino Catiis, of the Directorate of Comptrollership.

“We are reviewing our cases and soon we will be filing the case against those we believe are liable,” Magalong said.

Those charged will be filed with violating Presidential Decree 1866 or the Illegal Disposition of Firearms and Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act‎.

Magalong said a certain Isidro Lozada, of the Caraga Security Agency, facilitated the delivery of firearms to the NPA.

The transaction and transfer of firearms, according to Magalong, were made in a “very casual” manner.

Lozada is said to pick up the firearms in Butuan City. He sets a delivery point with an NPA commander, usually in terminals and market places.

Each AK-47 rifle is sold to NPA rebels at P52,000.

The erstwhile missing firearms were supposed to be used by security agencie‎s.