BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Former Pulupandan town mayor Magdalano Peña allegedly submitted a fake neuro-psychiatric clearance for a gun license application.
The Philippine National Police, in a press release, alleged that the former mayor fabricated the clearance for him to be able to own 15 firearms, which were raided, seized and is now being investigated by the police
Chief Superintendent Teresita Dumlao, director of the PNP Health Service, in a memo-randum dated November 6, 2015, informed the Civil Security Group that the neuro-psychiatric clearance of Peña “does not bear the genuine signatures of authorized health service officials.”
Superintendent Ronaldo Santos, chief of the Neuro-Pyschiatric Section of the PNP General Hospital, also verified that the neuro-psychiatric clearance of Peña is “fake and that he has no record on file.”
Santos’ signature was among the three signatures of Health Service officials that appeared in the neuro-psychiatric clearance submitted by Peña when he applied for gun licenses.
The neuro-psychiatric clearance is among the requirements for a Type 5 License to Own and Possess Firearms.
PNP Chief, Director General Ricardo Marquez, had tasked the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to lead the probe, upon the recommendation of PNP Deputy Director General Francisco Uyami Jr., chief of the PNP Directorial Staff.
The PNP high command will investigate Peña, who will face possible administrative and criminal offenses, and the firearms dealer that facilitated the documentation and sale of several high-powered firearms to the former mayor.
Police records indicated that seven shotguns and eight pistols were registered under Peña.
On May 2, 2013, authorities raided Peña’s ancestral house in Pulupandan, which yielded several high-powered firearms and explosives. (FREEMAN)