Ex-PNP Firearms chief Petrasanta, other officials found guilty of graft in AK-47 deal 

The Sandiganbayan has found former Police Senior Superintendent Raul Petrasanta guilty of 23 counts of graft over the illegal approval of a firearms license deal involving at least 19 high-powered AK-47s. 

In a 202-page decision, the anti-graft court said Petrasanta—who was then chief of the Philippine National Police’s Firearms and Explosives Office—and other police officials knowingly approved the deal even with JTC Mineral Mining Corporation, even if the firm did not meet the qualifications for the contract sealed between 2011 to 2012.

“Accused Petrasanta and [Police Chief Superintendent Napoleon Romero] Estilles, in their respective capacities as Chiefs of the Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) and as the final approving authorities for the issuance of licenses to high-powered firearms, knowingly approved the subject applications notwithstanding their patent irregularities,” the Sandiganbayan said. 

“As established by the evidence on record, they affixed their signatures to the questioned applications, thereby giving their imprimatur and consummating the unlawful approval in blatant disregard of the spurious and/or incomplete supporting documents, as well as the clear non-compliance with SOP No. 13 and the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 5487 (The Private Security Agency Law),” the anti-graft court added. 

Likewise, the Sandiganbayan said that Petrasanta, Estilles, and police officials Allan Acong Parreño, Regino Sy Catiis, Eduardo Acierto, Tomas Rentoy III, Gil Meneses, Sol Zapatero Bargan, Nelson Bautista, Ricardo Zapata, Jr., and Randy De Sesto unlawfully extended unwarranted benefits to JTC’s Isidro Lozada by facilitating the approval of the firearms license applications “despite the evident defects in the applications.” 

"Crucially, the investigation confirmed that JTC lacked a company security force, which was a mandatory requirement for a mining company to acquire high powered firearms. Furthermore, the General Information Sheet (GIS) of JTC for 2012 demonstrates that the individuals listed as "Chairman and President" and as members of the "Board of Directors" in Board Resolution No. 04-2012529 were not affiliated with the corporation," the Sandiganbayan said.

“They [the accused] unlawfully caused their approval which ultimately led to the release of the high-powered firearms to Lozada. Through these acts, they conferred upon him undue benefit and advantage,” it added.

The police officials were each sentenced to six to 10 years in prison for each count and perpetual disqualification from public office. 

The Sandiganbayan, however, did not impose civil liability “as the prosecution failed to convincingly prove the amount of civil damages suffered by the government.” — BM, GMA Integrated News