Palace airs concern on reported sale of missing AK-47s to NPA

Malacañang finds the alleged involvement of Philippine National Police (PNP) officials in the sale of AK-47 rifles to New People's Army (NPA) rebels a cause for concern.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte underscored that it's the national police force that should be benefitting from the high-powered firearms, and not its enemies.

"It raises a point of concern primarily because from day one President [Benigno S.] Aquino [III] has been trying to upgrade equipment in terms of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and the PNP, at gusto po natin sa mga sundalo at kapulisan po natin napupunta ‘yan (we want the firearms to end up in the hands of our soldiers and police)," she said.

"Yung capacity po nila ang dapat na-bibuild, hindi po ‘yung capacity ng ibang tao (It's their capacity to serve that must be built, not that of other people)."

Earlier, Ombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales allowed the filing of charges before the Sandiganbayan against 12 policemen – including five police generals and two colonels – in connection with the missing 1,000 AK-47 rifles.

The Ombudsman’s findings bared that the firearms, worth 52 million were sold to the Communist rebels between 2011 and 2013 through the collaboration of PNP officials.

"You know, of course, on the surface that’s a concern for us and we’d like to see also the resolution — of how the Ombudsman was able to arrive at that," Valte said.

One of those recommended for indictment by Morales was Police Chief Supt. Raul Petrasanta, who is known to be a close friend of President Aquino's.

The Palace official bared in the same interview that respondents who will be proven guilty of the misdeed will be dealt with accordingly.

"If they are found accountable under our legal processes, then certainly they will have to face the consequences of that," assured Valte.