Top PNP execs probed over missing AK-47 rifles

MANILA, Philippines - Eight top officials and five other officers of the Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) are under investigation for their alleged involvement in the disappearance of some 1,004 high-powered AK-47 rifles that were allegedly sold to the New People’s Army (NPA).

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales announced yesterday the creation of a five-member special panel to conduct the preliminary probe for possible criminal and administrative liability.

Those being investigated are Directors Gil Meneses and Napoleon Estilles; Chief Superintendents Raul Petrasanta, Tomas Rentoy II and Regino Catiis; Senior Superintendents Eduardo Acierto and Allan Parreno, and Superintendent Nelson Bautista.

Also under probe are Chief Inspectors Ricky Sumalde, Ricardo Zapata Jr. and Rodrigo Benedicto Sarmiento; Senior Police Officers 1 Eric Tan and Randy De Sesto, and three non-uniformed personnel.

Likewise named as respondents to the cases are Isidro Lozada of Caraga Security Agency and representatives of gun supplier Twin Pines Inc.

The charges lodged against them by field investigators of the Office of the Ombudsman include 19 counts of falsification, 46 counts of graft and violation of Republic Act 5487 or the Private Security Agency Law.

The administrative charges against them, including grave misconduct and serious dishonesty, carry a request for them to be preventively suspended pending administrative adjudication.

The Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices (MOLEO) initiated motu proprio the case build-up based on an article published by The STAR on June 6, 2014.

The complaint against the PNP officials and officers alleges that the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) issued an investigation report on July 17, 2014 that revealed that four private security agencies and a mining company successfully applied and were issued firearms licenses by the FEO using falsified and incomplete documentary requirements.

Based on the FEO database, 1,004 licensed firearms were released through the submission of incomplete and/or falsified applications submitted by Isidro Lozada, owner of the Caraga Security Agency, who purchased the firearms from Twin Pines Inc. which, in turn, facilitated and submitted the falsified and or incomplete license applications of Lozada to the PNP-FEO.

Despite the cited irregularities in the applications, licenses were processed and approved by PNP-FEO officials and personnel.

Documents gathered during field investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman disclosed 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 following encounters between the military and NPA rebels in the Caraga and Western Mindanao regions.