DOJ looks into PNP rifles in NPA possession

President Rodrigo Duterte recently sent an order to the Department of Justice to investigate on the possession of the New People’s Army (NPA) of weapons that were supposed to be for the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The weapons were Russian-made high-powered firearms.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II was the one who issued Department Order No. 7 to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into the case.

This act was still done despite some pending graft case at the Sandiganbayan 5th Division against some people in the PNP. Some of them were tagged in the selling of 1,004 AK-47 assault rifles that amounted to over P52 million.

Some of the people who were indicted in 2015 for graft are former Chief Supt. Raul Petrasanta, retired PNP Directors Gil Meneses and Napoleon Estilles, former Chief Supt. Tomas Rentoy III and Regino Catiis, former Senior Supts. Eduardo Acierto and Allan Parreño, Supt. Nelson Bautista, Chief Insps. Ricardo Zapata Jr. and Ricky Sumalde, Senior Police Officers 1 Eric Tan and Randy de Sesto, and civilian employees Nora Pirote and Sol Bargan, as well as private respondent Isidro Lozada.

Lozada was the registered owner of Caraga Security Agency who allegedly imported the weapons using his permit and then sold them to the NPA.

 Isidro Lozada

Isidro Lozada

According to reports, Lozada’s transaction with the NPA cost P52,000 each over a 2-year period.

This issue was especially highlighted in 2013 when then president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino reported that there are some firearms that have been unaccounted for.

A lot of those accused of importing drugs seem to be indicted, with the Justice Secretary saying that it was all simply “alleged”.

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Source: ABS-CBN News