Police major, employee cleared of graft raps in AK-47 case

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has cleared a police major and a private individual of liability in the graft case against former and current Philippine National Police officials involved in the missing AK-47 rifles.

Chief Insp. Rodrigo Sarmiento and Sherry Lyn Fetalino of Twin Pines Inc. were absolved of the criminal charges.

The Office of the Ombudsman directed the dismissal of the complaints based on the motions for reconsideration appealing the May 15 decision in finding probable cause to indict them.

Ombudsman lawyers are expected to file the graft charges against those still found liable after filing their appeals before the Sandiganbayan soon.

Among those to be indicted are former police directors Gil Meneses and Napoleon Estilles; Chief Supts. Raul Petrasanta, Tomas Rentoy II and Regino Catiis; Sr. Supts. Eduardo Acierto and Allan Parreno and Supt. Nelson Bautista.

The charges stemmed from their alleged involvement in the questionable release of 1,004 AK-47 rifles from 2011 to 2013 to security agencies and mining firms that ended up in the hands of New People’s Army rebels.