Sandigan asked: Junk travel plea of accused in gun license case

MANILA, Philippines - State prosecutors asked the Sandiganbayan not to allow one of the accused in cases concerning the alleged anomalous issuance of firearm licenses to leave for the US.

The prosecution stressed the probability that dismissed Sr. Supt. Allan Parreno, a co-accused in one of the firearms license cases involving Chief Supt. Raul Petrasanta, might not return if he were authorized to leave the country.

In his motion to travel, Parreno asked the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division to allow him to go to the US to fetch his ailing wife, Rosalinda Jose Francisco, so she can spend her remaining days in the Philippines.

However, prosecutors pointed out Parreno has failed to sufficiently show that “there is absolute necessity for him to travel to the United States of America to fetch the ailing mother of his children.”

Since he failed to show that he is legally connected to Francisco, prosecutors said “there is no reason why he should be the one to fetch Ms. Francisco.”

Apart from this, state lawyers added Parreno also failed to attach a medical certificate and/or hospital or physician’s documents to support his claim on the status or prognosis of Ms. Francisco other than his affidavit of undertaking.

Parreno was accused of approving the applications for firearm licenses of Caraga Isla Security Agency, Claver Mineral Development Corp. and JTC Mineral Mining Corp. despite incomplete or falsified applications and supporting documents.

The Office of the Ombudsman said most of the firearms, AK-47 assault rifles, were released immediately even while some of the requests for their withdrawal from storage were not properly signed.