CIDG to charge 5 PNP officers for 1,000 missing weapons now with NPA

From InterAksyon (Jun 5): CIDG to charge 5 PNP officers for 1,000 missing weapons now with NPA

The Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said Thursday it is set to file criminal and administrative charges against five senior police officers over the disappearance of more than a thousand assault rifles, most of which reportedly have ended up in the hands of communist rebels in Mindanao.

The officers to be charged before the Office of the Ombudsman are Director Gil Meneses, former head of the PNP Civil Security Group; Chief Superintendent Raul Petrasanta, director of Central Luzon Police office; Chief Supt. Tomas Rentoy, chief of the Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies; Senior Superintendent Regie Catiis and Senior Superintendent Eduardo Acierto Jr.

CIDG Director Benjamin Magalong said except for Petrasanta and Acierto, who remain in active service, the others are either retired or have opted to go on “non-duty” status.

The officers reportedly approved the sale by importer Twin Pines Inc. of 1,004 M16 and AK-47 rifles, as well as gun parts, ammunition and accessories, to JTC Mineral Mining Corp. in the Caraga region.

The weapons were supposedly to be used by the mining firm’s security force.

However, a nationwide gun check last year discovered that the weapons were missing from JTC’s inventory and had supposedly been delivered to the New People’s Army.

The five officials initially maintained the purchase of the weapons was “aboveboard” and passed all the requirements.

However, President Benigno Aquino III got wind of the alleged anomaly and ordered PNP Director General Alan Purisima to conduct an investigation.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/88427/cidg-to-charge-5-pnp-officers-for-1000-missing-weapons-now-with-npa