What has long been suspected has been confirmed: 1,004 high-powered automatic firearms of the Philippine National Police (PNP) that were supposedly acquired by mining firms and security agencies have been sold to the New People’s Army (NPA) through the PNP Regional Office in Butuan City.
Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Police Director Benjamin Magalong has charged administrative and criminal cases on the 5 police generals and 14 other senior officers, including 10 civilians for engaging in the illegal trade which is under Presidential Decree No. 1866 and for graft under Republic Act 3019. The selling of the missing cache of firearms to the communist rebels took place mostly in the Caraga region and Western Mindanao.
The PNP generals to be charged were Police Director Gil Meneses of the PNP Civil Security Group; Chief Supt. Raul Petrasanta of the Police Regional Office 3; and Senior Supt. Regino Catiis of the Directorate of Comptrollership. The other 2 generals were P/C Supt. Thomas Rentoy, and P/Dir. Napoleon Estilles.
Ordinary policemen and soldiers have also been suspected of selling their bullets to the NPA.
The total value of the 1,004 guns sold is P52 million. It shows how much money the NPAs have.
This is the ultimate act of corruption in the PNP. Other items sold by PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel are aviation fuel and spare parts.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Motorpool has also engaged in the selling of surplus spare parts. There is also ghost deliveries of supplies and materials.
TG stalling
Senator Sergio Osmeña has accused Senator TG Guingona of stalling on the resumption of Blue Ribbon Committee hearings both on the Napoles list and the Malampaya Fund scam.
Osmeña also aired his suspicion that Malacañang is calling the shots on the Blue Ribbon Committee hearings.
Napoles’ latest affidavit has implicated 21 senators and former senators. She should be called to testify on her affidavit.
The question now: With the Ombudsman rejecting her plea for immunity, will Napoles still cooperate and tell all?
Ombudsman files charges
The Ombudsman is set to file formal charges against Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon “Bong†Revilla Jr., Jose “Jinggoy†Estrada, and 35 others before the Sandiganbayan the criminal Informations for Plunder and violations of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
The Sandiganbayan will issue warrants of arrest. Senator Jinggoy Estrada said he will voluntarily surrender.
Here are some of the list of individuals who were approved for indictment tagged by whistleblowers as having dealt with Napoles: Jessica Lucila Reyes (Enrile’s chief of staff), Pauline Therese Mary Labayen (Estrada’s appointments staff), and Richard Cambe (Revilla’s chief political staff).
Napoles’ driver-bodyguard John Raymond de Asis and her nephew John Ronald Lim, who were both listed as officials of two Napoles non-governmental organizations (NGOs), are also set to be charged.
In the 66-page joint order pertaining to the case against Enrile, Morales also denied the MRs of the following: Jose Antonio Evangelista II, Francisco Figura, Marivic Jover, Antonio Ortiz, Alan Javellana, Maria Julie Villaralvo-Johnson, Romulo Relevo, Chita Jalandoni, Filipina Tolentino Rodriquez, Emmanuel Alexis Sevidal, Sophia Daing Cruz, Gondelina Amata, Ofelia Ordoñez, Mario Relampagos, Rosario Nuñez, Lalaine Paule, Marilou Bare, Janet Lim Napoles, Jo Christine Napoles, James Christopher Napoles, Eulogio Rodriguez, Dorilyn Agbay Fabian, Nitz Cabilao, Ronald John Lim, Renato Ornopia.
In the 55-page joint order pertaining to the case against Revilla, Morales also denied the MRs filed by Ofelia Ordoñez, Francisco Figura, Ma. Ninez Guañizo, Chita Jalandoni, Maria Julie Villaralvo-Johnson, Gregoria Buenaventura, Mario Relampagos, Rosario Nuñez, Lalaine Paule, Marilou Bare, Romulo Relevo, Ronald John Lim, Alan Javellana, Gondelina Mata, Sophia Cruz, Marivic Jover, Antonio Ortiz, Consuelo Lilian Espiritu, Emmanuel Alexis Sevidal, and Eulogio Rodriguez.
In the 45-page joint order pertaining to the case against Estrada, Morales likewise denied the motions for reconsideration filed by Francisco Figura, Marivic Jover, Antonio Ortiz, Emmanuel Alexis Sevidal,
Sophia Daing Cruz, Gondelina Amata, Gregoria Buenaventura, Chita Jalandoni, Alan Javellana, Maria Ninez Guanizo, Maria Julie Villaralvo-Johnson, Mario Relampagos, Rosario Nuñez, Lalaine Paule, Marilou Bare, Janet Napoles, and John Raymond De Asis.
The accused can ask the Sandiganbayan for judicial determination of probable cause. The accused can also file a motion to grant bail, claiming evidence of guilt is not strong.
Tidbits
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Dinky Soliman and Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Lima’s schedule of confirmations from the Commission on Appointments (CA) will be next Wednesday.
Looks like Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Paje and Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jericho Petilla will be bypassed by the COA because of no immediate plans to confirm their appointments, in effect, they will be re-appointed.
Six Manila policemen are taking various offenses including extortion and rape charges. They are SP04 Anthony Carpio, SP03 Emmanuel Bautista, SP01 Victor Amisola, P01 Jaycee Galutera, P01 Joseph Casimiro, and P01 Teodorico Arias.
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has increased the scholarship slots under its Expanded Students’ Grant-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGP-PA) from 4,041 in school year 2012-2013 to 40,453 this year. The CHED said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has allotted some P2.5 billion for the implementation of the ESGP-PA this school year.