Miriam: Probe theft of P11.7-M guns from Crame

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago is calling for an inquiry into the theft of nearly P12 million worth of pistols from the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame.

Santiago filed Senate Resolution 686, which directs the proper Senate committee to conduct an inquiry into reports that 59 pistols worth P11.7 million were pilfered from the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) warehouse.

The senator called for the probe after Senior Superintendent Roberto Fajardo, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-National Capital Region (CIDG-NCR), reported the loss.

Santiago said the loss was discovered when gun supplier Joavi Phils. Corp. conducted a random inventory of its firearms in the warehouse last month.

During the CIDG investigation, Harold Sumalde, 23, an employee of the gun supplier, admitted to stealing the pistols and identified Raymond Lopez as his alleged accomplice.

While both men have been charged with qualified theft and violating Republic Act 10591 or the gun control law before the Quezon City prosecutor’s office, Santiago said she deems it necessary for the Senate to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation.

“There is a need for the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the (PNP) to determine the culpability of the accused and if there are other PNP officials involved,” Santiago said in her resolution.

Santiago also urged the FEO and the CIDG-NCR to speed up efforts to recover the stolen firearms and to identify those who now possess them.