PNP execs in rifle deal barred from leaving Philippines

MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan has issued separate hold departure orders (HDOs) against Philippine National Police (PNP) officials on trial for graft for their alleged involvement in a scam involving the licensing and questionable release of AK-47 assault rifles that ended up in the hands of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.

In HDOs released yesterday, magistrates of the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division – headed by Associate Justice Roland Jurado – said Chief Superintendent Raul Petrasanta, former chief of the Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO), and his co-accused are not allowed to leave the country without prior permission.

Also covered by HDOs were former Civil Security Group chief Gil Meneses, former FEO chief Napoleon Estilles, Firearms and Licensing Division head Chief Superintendent Regino Catiis and Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies head Chief Superintendent Tomas Rentoy III.

Likewise barred from leaving the county were Senior Superintendent Eduardo Acierto, Senior Superintendent Allan Parreño, Superintendent Nelson Bautista, Chief Inspectors Ricardo Zapata Jr. and Ricky Sumalde, Senior Police Officers 1 Eric Tan and Randy de Sesto, non-uniformed personnel Nora Pirote and Sol Bargan, and Isidro Lozada of the Caraga Security Agency.

The Sandiganbayan directed the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to implement the HDOs and include the names of the PNP officials and officers in its hold departure list.

Petrasanta and his fellow respondents to the case were indicted for their alleged involvement in the questionable release of 1,004 AK-47 rifles from 2011 to 2013 to security agencies and mining firms that ended up in the hands of the NPA.