Government Officials Investigated For Corruption & Illegal Activities.

[Americano]

Now 1,004 AK-47 Rifles are missing from the PNP and several other high ranking government officials are currently under investigation including Senators, Governors, Mayors and even the Vice President. Will the corruption ever end or will it only get worse?

 

Here's the news article concerning the AK-47 Rifles:

 

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/11/14/1391578/top-pnp-execs-probed-over-missing-ak-47-rifles

 

MANILA, Philippines - Eight top officials and five other officers of the Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) are under investigation for their alleged involvement in the disappearance of some 1,004 high-powered AK-47 rifles that were allegedly sold to the New People’s Army (NPA).

 

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales announced yesterday the creation of a five-member special panel to conduct the preliminary probe for possible criminal and administrative liability.  Those being investigated are Directors Gil Meneses and Napoleon Estilles; Chief Superintendents Raul Petrasanta, Tomas Rentoy II and Regino Catiis; Senior Superintendents Eduardo Acierto and Allan Parreno, and Superintendent Nelson Bautista.  Also under probe are Chief Inspectors Ricky Sumalde, Ricardo Zapata Jr. and Rodrigo Benedicto Sarmiento; Senior Police Officers 1 Eric Tan and Randy De Sesto, and three non-uniformed personnel.  Likewise named as respondents to the cases are Isidro Lozada of Caraga Security Agency and representatives of gun supplier Twin Pines Inc.

 

The charges lodged against them by field investigators of the Office of the Ombudsman include 19 counts of falsification, 46 counts of graft and violation of Republic Act 5487 or the Private Security Agency Law.

Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

 

The administrative charges against them, including grave misconduct and serious dishonesty, carry a request for them to be

preventively suspended pending administrative adjudication.

 

The Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices (MOLEO) initiated motu proprio the case build-up based on an article published by The STAR on June 6, 2014.

 

The complaint against the PNP officials and officers alleges that the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) issued an investigation report on July 17, 2014 that revealed that four private security agencies and a mining company successfully applied and were issued firearms licenses by the FEO using falsified and incomplete documentary requirements.

Based on the FEO database, 1,004 licensed firearms were released through the submission of incomplete and/or falsified applications submitted by Isidro Lozada, owner of the Caraga Security Agency, who purchased the firearms from Twin Pines Inc. which, in turn, facilitated and submitted the falsified and or incomplete license applications of Lozada to the PNP-FEO.

Despite the cited irregularities in the applications, licenses were processed and approved by PNP-FEO officials and personnel.

Documents gathered during field investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman disclosed that Caraga Security Agency’s License to Operate had expired on Sept. 30, 2012.

 

The CIDG was also able to validate information that firearms matching the serial numbers of the licensed AK47s issued to the security agencies and mining company were recovered following encounters between the military and NPA rebels in the Caraga and Western Mindanao regions.

[Old55]

Nothing to see here.... Move along..... Move along...........

[RBM]

Now 1,004 AK-47 Rifles are missing from the PNP and several other high ranking government officials are currently under investigation including Senators, Governors, Mayors and even the Vice President. Will the corruption ever end or will it only get worse?

 

Here's the news article concerning the AK-47 Rifles:

 

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/11/14/1391578/top-pnp-execs-probed-over-missing-ak-47-rifles

 

MANILA, Philippines - Eight top officials and five other officers of the Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) are under investigation for their alleged involvement in the disappearance of some 1,004 high-powered AK-47 rifles that were allegedly sold to the New People’s Army (NPA).

 

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales announced yesterday the creation of a five-member special panel to conduct the preliminary probe for possible criminal and administrative liability.  Those being investigated are Directors Gil Meneses and Napoleon Estilles; Chief Superintendents Raul Petrasanta, Tomas Rentoy II and Regino Catiis; Senior Superintendents Eduardo Acierto and Allan Parreno, and Superintendent Nelson Bautista.  Also under probe are Chief Inspectors Ricky Sumalde, Ricardo Zapata Jr. and Rodrigo Benedicto Sarmiento; Senior Police Officers 1 Eric Tan and Randy De Sesto, and three non-uniformed personnel.  Likewise named as respondents to the cases are Isidro Lozada of Caraga Security Agency and representatives of gun supplier Twin Pines Inc.

 

The charges lodged against them by field investigators of the Office of the Ombudsman include 19 counts of falsification, 46 counts of graft and violation of Republic Act 5487 or the Private Security Agency Law.

Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

 

The administrative charges against them, including grave misconduct and serious dishonesty, carry a request for them to be

preventively suspended pending administrative adjudication.

 

The Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices (MOLEO) initiated motu proprio the case build-up based on an article published by The STAR on June 6, 2014.

 

The complaint against the PNP officials and officers alleges that the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) issued an investigation report on July 17, 2014 that revealed that four private security agencies and a mining company successfully applied and were issued firearms licenses by the FEO using falsified and incomplete documentary requirements.

Based on the FEO database, 1,004 licensed firearms were released through the submission of incomplete and/or falsified applications submitted by Isidro Lozada, owner of the Caraga Security Agency, who purchased the firearms from Twin Pines Inc. which, in turn, facilitated and submitted the falsified and or incomplete license applications of Lozada to the PNP-FEO.

Despite the cited irregularities in the applications, licenses were processed and approved by PNP-FEO officials and personnel.

Documents gathered during field investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman disclosed that Caraga Security Agency’s License to Operate had expired on Sept. 30, 2012.

 

The CIDG was also able to validate information that firearms matching the serial numbers of the licensed AK47s issued to the security agencies and mining company were recovered following encounters between the military and NPA rebels in the Caraga and Western Mindanao regions.

 

So often we read about these allegations and counter allegations but.....rarely  read of results.

 

Remember the Maguindanao  2009 massacre, wonder if ever anybody has been jailed for same.

 

There appears to be a serious lack of accountability here, even recognized in stores....hotels....when an employee makes a simple mistake.....not my fault sir.....yet to hear sorry sir I made a mistake....

 

Ah  The Philippines guess this makes it unique.  

 

Recently had a couple of weeks in Davao, from many people I talked to, the attitude seems very different from people in Cebu. Seems a nice safe city from the little time spent there.

[Thomas]

So often we read about these allegations and counter allegations but.....rarely read of results. Remember the Maguindanao 2009 massacre, wonder if ever anybody has been jailed for same.

Yes. I wonder too.

Recently had a couple of weeks in Davao, from many people I talked to, the attitude seems very different from people in Cebu. Seems a nice safe city from the little time spent there.

I haven't been there, but I have heared the major have made all criminals are killed   :)   or scared away. So last years it has been calm.

 

I don't know if it's true, but I did read, when the muslim guerilla had an offensive actibity rather recently, one of the high guerilla leaders is suppoused to have said they will take all, but make EXCEPTION for Davao. That muslim guerilla leader and the Davao major became friends many years earlier, according to same source.

[JJReyes]

Best guide is Transparency International. Their annual report ranks countries by their level of corruption. The Philippine version is more blatant and in-your-face because the politicians believe they are untouchable.

[Old55]

For the most part the more powerful Filipino politicians are accountable only to God. It's likely this will slowly fade away.

Lately we read about the Ampatuan massacre, Pork barrel scandal and many many more whatever happened? Nothing much.

[Americano]

Even some of the people who are paid to investigate corruption are corrupt too.

 

https://anc.yahoo.com/news/ombudsman-staff-sacked-for-soliciting-cash--ipad-000828995.html

 

Ombudsman staff sacked for soliciting cash, iPadANC – 12 hours ago

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An employee of the Office of the Ombudsman's Public Assistance Bureau (PAB) has been dismissed from service for grave misconduct due to solicitation.

 

How it happened

The Ombudsman said Associate Graft Investigation Officer (AGIO) Romeo de Guzman also faces criminal indictments for three counts of violation of Section 7(d) of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

According to the complaint filed by Juliet Yoshikawa, it was De Guzman who attended to her when she went to the PAB on April 8, 2010 to air her complaint against Glan, Sarangani officials in connection with the communication tower being built by a telecommunication company on her property without her consent.

De Guzman offered to find a legal counsel for her, Yoshikawa said. On April 28, 2010, she again met with De Guzman and the lawyer De Guzman referred to her.

 

Cash demands

During the meeting, Yoshikawa said she signed a retainer contract and handed over two checks amounting to P100,000 each.

Moreover, on several occasions after their first meeting, she said De Guzman also demanded from her P18,000 and P7,000 as appearance fees for him to take action on her requests for assistance, P2,000 to assist in her passport renewal, and an iPad for De Guzman's wife.

De Guzman also asked P180,000 from her as filing fee for the complaint to be filed against the telecommunication company, Yoshikawa added.

 

The Ombudsman's findings

In the resolution and decision both approved on October 17, 2014, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales stated that "public officials are prohibited from soliciting or accepting any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan, or anything of monetary value from any person in the performance of their official functions."

She also stressed that as provided in Office Order No. 05-13, Ombudsman "officials and employees shall not recommend private attorneys to litigants or prospective litigants in any case or complaint filed with or originating from the Office of the Ombudsman, or to anyone dealing with the Office."

She said De Guzman "has shown he is unfit to discharge the functions of the Office," reiterating that "the standards are more stringent in this Office by reason of its special mandate as it affects the public's perception of the integrity and impartiality of the institution."

Aside from dismissal from service, De Guzman was also meted out the accessory penalties of forfeiture of retirement benefits, cancellation of eligibility, bar from taking civil service examinations, and perpetual disqualification from re-employment in government service.

[Methersgate]

I was, for many years, married to a lady who in her youth had been associated with the NPA.

 

She knew how to strip an M16; the NPA used these and not AK47s because it was easier for them to buy Uncle Sam's weapons from the people whom Uncle Sam had supplied them to than to try to import AK47s.

 

Now the Government is using AK47s, so the NPA are using them too.