Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales ordered the six-month preventive suspension without pay of Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Alan Purisima and 11 others for entering into an illegal courier contract to deliver licenses to applicants.
These public officers siphoned funds from the mandatory delivery fees paid by gun owners in securing their gun licenses.
Despite its non-accreditation, the Werfast, who handled the delivery of firearms license cards, was incorporated only after it signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the PNP in 2011, which Purisima approved last year, with a paid-up capital of only P65,000.
Purisima earlier ordered the closure of satellite offices of the Civil Security Group (CSG) tasked to process the licensing of firearms across the country, while gun owners were then required to go to the PNP’s headquarters in Camp Crame for license renewal and other processes. The license cards will be delivered through Werfast to their respective homes.
Also suspended for administrative charges of Grave Misconduct and Serious Dishonesty were Police Director Gil Meneses, former chief of the PNP Civil Security Group (CSG); along with former officials of the PNP Firearms Explosive Office (FEO), namely: P/CSupt. Raul Petrasanta, P/CSupt. Napoleon Estilles, P/SSupt. Allan Parreño, P/SSupt. Eduardo Acierto, P/SSupt. Melchor Reyes, P/SSupt. Lenbell Fabia, P/Supt. Sonia Calixto, P/CInsp. Nelson Bautista, P/SInsp. Ford Tuazon and P/CInsp. Ricardo Zapata.
According to Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the Werfast did not pay any taxes from 2011 to 2013. Moreover, there were no records to show that Werfast established an online facility for applications for renewal of firearms license. Due to lack of logistical capability, they engaged the service of LBC wherein they collected above the standard courier charges.
On the missing 1,004 high-powered AK-47 rifles, the Ombudsman also ordered the suspension of Chief Superintendents Raul Petrasanta and Regino Catiis; Senior Superintendents Eduardo Acierto and Allan Parreno, Superintendent Nelson Bautista, 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.
The retired officers will still face criminal charges.
These two cases of corruption at the top, once again, confirm the notorious culture of corruption in the PNP.
Super typhoon Ruby
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) in Hawaii, United States declared Ruby a super cyclone in the tropical western Pacific Ocean, which is stronger than Typhoon Pablo but weaker than Super Typhoon Yolanda, with winds reaching 215 kp/h and 250 kp/h near the center.
Forty-four provinces and cities will be affected, including Metro Manila, the two Mindoros and Palawan.
First to suffer landfall would be Borongan in Easter Samar and Allen in Northern Samar.
President Aquino presided over a National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council (NDRRMC) conference and reviewed all preparations.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has asked the faithful to pray for Typhoon Ruby not to inflict damage.
The local government units (LGUs) have been directed to prepare their food packs for evacuees.
Mayor Alfred Romualdez of Tacloban has evacuated 95 percent of affected residents to safer areas.
Unbelievable holdup
Four staff members of Senator J.V. Ejercito were held up inside a taxi at Quirino Avenue in Malate. The holduppers came from outside the taxicab, opened the door, shot one lady and demanded everyone to surrender their valuables.
Car racer Bong Hilario was shot dead by riding-in-tandem at his motorshop in Antipolo.
Bank manager Davidson Pascual was shot dead by two men riding-in-tandem in Caloocan.
Restobar owner Rose Lintag was shot dead by riding-in-tandem in Tanza, Cavite.
Meanwhile, the New People’s Army (NPA) ambushed an ambulance in Rosario, Agusan del Sur killing four passengers.
Torture thriving
Despite the country’s global image as a ‘champion for human rights,’ torture of suspected criminals by the police is thriving under President Aquino, according to Amnesty International report.
Some police personnel resort to “shortcuts” when investigating cases and arresting suspects, resulting to human rights abuses.
The Philippines is signatory to the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) that was passed in 2009 — the “Anti-Torture Act.” This is the reason why Amnesty International Secretary General Salil Shetty was very shocked upon checking the on-the ground situation of torture by the police forces.
Citing the report of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), 75 cases of torture was reported in 2013 alone. From January to July 2014, 22 out of 28 alleged cases of torture recorded by the CHR involve cops.
One of the more recent and high-profile cases of cops caught torturing suspects happened in January 2014 when regional intelligence police based in Biñan, Laguna, were caught running its lock-up cell as a ‘torture facility.’
Shetty said that the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and PNP have denied their request for a dialogue.
“You have a president whose initial speeches were all about his commitment to human rights. But this time, he wasn’t even keen on meeting us. There’s no point in denying the facts, in hiding from reality,” added the Amnesty International chief.
The other reality is the salvaging of suspected criminals.
Tidbits
Belated birthday greetings to Tony Boy Floirendo of Davao.
Christmas greetings to Pagcor Chairman Bong Naguiat, Sen. J.V. Ejercito, Sen. Gringo and Jane Honasan, Edwin Calanog and Dalmacio Lim.