PNP officials indicted over release of rifles

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman yesterday ordered the filing of multiple graft cases against former and current officials and officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for their involvement in the questionable release of AK-47 rifles from 2011 to 2013.

The 1,004 rifles released to security agencies and mining firms reportedly ended up in the hands of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.

Among those ordered charged before the Sandiganbayan were 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.

Also ordered indicted were Chief Insps. Ricky Sumalde, Ricardo Zapata Jr. and Rodrigo Benedicto Sarmiento; Senior Police Officers 1 Eric Tan and Randy de Sesto; non-uniformed personnel Nora Pirote and Sol Bargan; Isidro Lozada of Caraga Security Agency and Sherry Lyn Fetalino of Twin Pines Inc.

The charges against Twin Pines representatives Servando Topacio, Marie Ann Topacio, Thelma Castillejos, Hagen Alexander Topacio, Alexandria Topacio have been ordered dismissed for lack of probable cause.

Investigation conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman showed that from 2011 to 2013, firearms licenses were issued in favor of Caraga and Isla security agencies and mining companies Claver Mineral Development Corp. and JTC Mineral Mining Corp., using 23 incomplete or falsified applications and supporting documents.

Graft probers said the PNP officials and private respondents conspired with one another in facilitating, processing and approving the applications for firearm licenses.

The ombudsman denied the motions for reconsideration filed by the accused and upheld its May 15 ruling that there were irregularities in the release of the AK-47 rifles.

The anti-graft agency said the applications were all approved by Petrasanta upon the recommendation of Acierto, with the last two applications bearing a handwritten instruction from Meneses to expedite processing.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said the public respondents acted in bad faith and violated their duties.

In November last year, Morales created a five-man panel of investigators to conduct preliminary investigation proceedings against the respondents. 

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the PNP was able to validate information that firearms bearing the serial numbers of the AK-47s issued to security agencies and mining firms were recovered from clashes between the military and the NPA in the Caraga and Western Mindanao regions.