The Sandiganbayan has convicted former Philippine National Police (PNP) Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) chief Brig. Gen. Raul D. Petrasanta and several others on graft charges linked to the defective licensing of more than 100 AK-47 rifles between 2011 and 2013.
The “defectively licensed” rifles were reportedly sold to members of the New People’s Army (NPA).
Petrasanta was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of 14 counts of graft. He was sentenced to six to 10 years imprisonment for each graft conviction with perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
There was no civil liability imposed since the prosecution failed to convincingly prove the amount of civil damages suffered by the government.
Those who were also convicted were former Firearms and Licensing Division chief SSupt. Eduardo P. Acierto (11 counts), assistant division chief SSupt. Allan A. Parreno (10 counts), non-uniformed personnel Isidro V. Lozada of the Caraga Security Agency (14 counts), CSupt. Napoleon R. Estilles (three counts), SSupt. Regino S. Catiis (three counts), Nup Sol Z. Bargan (two counts), Civil Service Security Group chief PDir. Gil C. Meneses (six counts), Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies chief CSupt Tomas G. Rentoy III (three counts), former FEO Inspection and Enforcement (I&E) section chief CInsp. Nelson L. Bautista (three counts), SPO1 Randy M. De Sesto (two counts), and former I&E assistant chief CInsp. Ricardo S. Zapata Jr. (one count).
The 202-page decision was written by Associate Justice Lord A. Villanueva with the concurrence of Associate Justices Sarah Jane T. Fernandez and Kevin Narce B. Vivero.
Ombudsman prosecutors said that licenses were issued for over 100 AK-47 rifles from Aug. 2011 to April 2013 in favor of four private companies — Caraga, Isla Security Agency, Claver Mineral Development Corporation, and JTC Mineral Mining Corporation — despite having incomplete and falsified documents.
The prosecutors also said that the rifles were reportedly sold to NPA members.
In its decision, the Sandiganbayan said: “A careful review of the records reveals that the applications for firearm licenses submitted by JTC, Claver, Isla, and Caraga were tainted with deficient and anomalous documents. These irregularities underscore their substantial non-compliance with the mandatory legal and administrative requirements.” (Czarina Ong Ki)
