Police official vows to cooperate in probe on missing guns

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga, Philippines â€“ A police official linked to 900 missing high-powered firearms has promised to cooperate in the ongoing investigation.

“I welcome the investigation being conducted and I will answer all queries in the proper forum,” Chief Superintendent Raul Petrasanta, Police Regional Office-3 director, said in a text message to The STAR. 

Petrasanta, former director of the Firearms and Explosive Office, is among those ordered investigated by Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) director Chief Superintendent Benjamin Magalong.

Upon orders of President Aquino, the CIDG is also investigating Director Gil Meneses of the Philippine National Police Civil Security Group, Chief Superintendent Tom Rentoy of the Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies, Senior Superintendent Regie Catiis of the Directorate for Comptrollership and Senior Superintendent Eduardo Acierto Jr. over the missing 900 AK-47 and M-16 Armalite rifles.  

Some police officers here claimed some quarters only want to destroy the credibility of Petrasanta, who is reportedly being groomed to replace PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima.