PNP men charged with graft; TRC execs ordered dismissed

Philippine National Police (PNP) officials have been charged with multiple counts of graft before the Sandiganbayan for the anomalous issuance of licenses for AK47 firearms from 2011 to 2013.

The Office of the Ombuds-

man filed the cases Tuesday afternoon before the Sandiganbayan. The PNP officials were cited for violating Section 3(e) and Section 3(j) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act 3019).

Under Section 3(e) of RA 3019, public officials are prohibited from causing any undue injury to any party, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.

While, Section 3(j) of the same Act prohibits public officials from knowingly approving or granting any license, permit, privilege or benefit in favor of any person not qualified for or not legally entitled to such license, permit, privilege or advantage, or of a mere representative or dummy of one who is not so qualified or entitled.

Charged

Those charged were PNP Firearms and Explosive Office (FEO) chief Director Napoleon Estilles for two counts of violating Section 3(j) and two counts of violating Section 3(e) of RA3019 two counts, 02780279, 3(e) 2 counts; Civil Security Group chief Dir. Gil Meneses with six counts of violating Section 3(e); FEO head Chief Supt. Raul Petrasanta, 12 counts of violating Section 3(j) and 13 counts of Section 3(e); Firearms and Licensing Division head Chief Supt. Regino Catiis, three counts of Section 3(e); and Chief Supt. Tomas Rentoy III, with three counts of Section 3 (e).

Others charged Also included in the charges were Sr.Supt. Eduardo Acierto; Sr.Supt. Allan Parreno; Supt. Nelson Bautista; Chief Insp. Ricardo Zapata Jr.; Chief Insp. Ricky Sumalde; SPO1 Eric Tan; SPO1 Randy De Sesto; non-uniformed personnel Nora Pirote and Sol Bargan; and Isidro Lozada of Caraga Security Agency.

The Office of the Ombudsman recommended that each of the accused post a bail of 30,000 for each count they are charged with.

Incomplete documents

In filing the cases, the Ombudsman indicated that the accused were found to have conspired in facilitating, processing and approving the applications for firearm licenses of Caraga, Isla Security Agency, Claver Mineral Development Corporation and JTC Mineral Mining Corporation despite incomplete or falsified applications and supporting documents.

The Ombudsman indicated that most of the firearms were also released immediately even when some of the requests for their withdrawal from storage were not signed by the requester.

Charges dismissed

Meanwhile, Ombudsman Morales dismissed the same charges against Chief Insp. Rodrigo Benedicto Sarmiento, NUP Enrique Dela Cruz, and seven representatives of Twin Pines another license applicant for lack of probable cause.

TRC execs ordered

dismissed

In another decision, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales ordered the dismissal from the service of five executives of the Technology Resource Center (TRC) over the alleged misuse of the 101 million Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) of three former congressmen.

The anti-graft czar identified the TRC officials as Deputy Director General Dennis Cunanan, Chief Accountant Marivic Jover, Budget Officer Consuelo Lilian Espiritu, Sales and Promotion Officer Belina Concepcion and Internal Auditor Maurine Dimaranan.

They allegedly connived with former Representatives Alvin Sandoval of Malabon and Navotas Cities, Anthony Miranda of the 4th District of Isabela, and Constantino Jaraula of Cagayan de Oro City in the illegal disbursements of their PDAF.