PNP.GOV.PH: Philippine National Police

PNP Chief, Police Director General Ricardo c Marquez has approved the administrative relief of the Chief of the Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) and 14 subordinate personnel in connection with the ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities involving the processing of License to Own and Possess Firearms (LTOPF).

Chief Superintendent Elmo Francis D Sarona, erstwhile Chief FEO has been relieved from post while undergoing investigation. The Chief PNP has designated Police Senior Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne R Binag as FEO Officer-in-Charge. 

Also relieved from FEO and reassigned to the Office of the Director, Civil Security Group (CSG) were: SInsp Edward Oñate, SPO2 Darwin G Miguel, SPO1 Edward R Bondoc, PO3 Ferdinand S Sapla, PO3 Alberto N Dominong Jr., PO3 Ben P Ferel, PO3 Joan Liza Z Young, PO3 Roy Del Rosario, PO3 Rodel B Crisostomo, PO3 Emmanuel D Cajulao, PO3 Bernard C Catungal, NUP Audita B Cabbab, NUP Emelia L Lorenzo, and NUP Edith T Famillaran.

PNP Spokesperson, Chief Superintendent Wilben M Mayor clarified that the relief is a procedural administrative action to prevent these personnel from influencing the outcome of the investigation.

The Chief PNP approved their administrative relief upon the recommendation of Police Director Victor P Deona, Director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

THe investigation stemmed from two separate sting operations by the CIDG Anti-Fraud and Commercial Crimes Unit (AFCCU) in November 2015 wherein undercover CIDG-AFCCU agents were able to obtain License to Own and Possess Firearms (LTOPF) certificates sans the submission of required documentary requirements for a package fee of P15,000.00.

The Chief PNP has also approved the recommendation of Deona to grant CIDG-AFCCU full access to FEO records to determine the extent of the irregularities and identify other fraudulent entries made into the LTOPF database.

This developed as the CIDG is set to file criminal cases for alleged Falsification of Official Documents under Article 172 in relation to Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code against 12 persons for alleged falsification of Neuro-Psychiatric (NP) Clearance certificates recovered from personnel of Reloader Guns and Ammo Trading.

They are: Romeo Paul TARUC, John Roel CRUZ and Ronnello Maningding TARUC, all of officers of Reloader Guns and Ammo Trading.

 Also facing charges are nine (9) other persons whose names appear in spurious NP Clearance certificates, they are: Nelson C. CABALLA, Renato P. DOCIN, Alvin O CHUA, Edgar A DERECHO, Jayken CELI, Gabriel S ESTRELLA, Reginald T LEE, Noel C SUSANO, and Michael Angelo U DESQUITADO. (PNP-PIO)