Sandiganbayan issues HDOs vs 14 PNP execs in AK-47 rifle scam

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 16): Sandiganbayan issues HDOs vs 14 PNP execs in AK-47 rifle scam

The Sandiganbayan has issued hold departure orders (HDOs) against former Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office (PNP-FEO) head Chief Supt. Raul Petrasanta and 13 other former and current PNP officials allegedly involved in the AK-47 rifle scam.

In separate HDOs issued on Nov. 4, 2015, the Sandiganbayan's Fifth Division ordered the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to include the names of Petrasanta and 14 other individuals facing graft charges in connection with the AK-47 rifle scam, in its Hold Departure List, that would in effect bar them from leaving the Philippines.

"This Court, in the exercise of its inherent power to use all means necessary to carry its orders into effect…Hereby orders the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration to hold the departure from the Philippines of the above-named accused and to include the names of said accused in the Hold Departure List of said Bureau," the HDO said.

The Sandiganbayan said that the issuance of the HDO was aimed "to preserve and maintain the effectiveness of its jurisdiction over the case and the persons of the accused" more specifically to render them available "at all times" in the proceedings of their case.

The graft charges against Petrasanta and 14 of his co-accused arose from the alleged anomalous issuance of licenses from August 2011 to April 2013 for over a hundred units of high-powered AK-47 rifles in favor of four private companies despite incomplete or falsified applications and supporting documents.

Aside from Petrasanta, other former and current PNP officials prevented from leaving the Philippines were retired Civil Security Group Director Gil Meneses, former FEO head Director Napoleon Estilles, Firearms and Licensing Division Chief Supt. Regino Catiis and Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies Chief Supt. Tomas Rentoy III.

Also barred from leaving the Philippines were Senior Supts. Eduardo Acierto and Allan Parreño, Supt. Nelson Bautista, Chief Inspectors Ricardo Zapata, Jr. and Ricky Sumalde, Senior Police Officers 1 (SPO1) Eric Tan and Randy De Sesto, non-uniformed personnel (NUP) Nora Pirote and Sol Bargan, and private individual Isidro Lozada of the Caraga Security Agency.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=827631