The head of the Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) of the Philippine National Police and 14 subordinates were relieved of their posts on Tuesday as the high command investigates anomalies in their processing and issuance of gun permits.
PNP Director General Ricardo Marquez approved the relief of Chief Supt. Elmo Francis Sarona and 14 of his staff members. They will be reassigned to the Office of the Director of the PNP Civil Security Group while the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) continues with the probe.
The investigation stemmed from two operations conducted by the CIDG Anti-Fraud and Commercial Crimes Unit in November, wherein undercover agents were able to obtain LTOPF certificates from Sarona’s office by just paying a P15,000 “package fee” without submitting the required documents.
LTOPF stands for License to Own and Possess Firearms.
The CIDG head, Director Victor Deona, recommended the relief of Sarona and the following FEO personnel: Senior Insp. Edward Oñate, SPO2 Darwin Miguel, SPO1 Edward Bondoc, PO3 Ferdinand Sapla, PO3 Alberto Dominong Jr., PO3 Ben Ferel, PO3 Joan Liza Young, PO3 Roy Del Rosario, PO3 Rodel Crisostomo, PO3 Emmanuel Cajulao, PO3 Bernard Catungal, and nonuniformed personnel Audita Cabbab, Emelia Lorenzo and Edith Famillaran.
Marquez has granted Deona’s request for the CIDG to have “full access to FEO records to determine the extent of the irregularities and identify other fraudulent entries made into the LTOPF database,” said PNP spokesperson Wilben Mayor.
Senior Supt. Cesar R. Binag was tapped as the FEO officer in charge.
The CIDG is also investigating another anomalous practice involving the issuance of the LTOPF, this time perpetrated by gun sellers.
Complaints for falsification of documents are being prepared against three company officials and nine customers of Reloader Guns and Ammo Trading, after fake neuropsychiatric clearance certificates were recovered from the gun sellers who run their shop on 3rd Avenue, Barangay Bagong Lipunan, near Camp Crame.
The clearance is one of the requirements for an LTOPF and should be issued by the PNP Health Service or its accredited psychologists and psychiatrists.