2 gun ‘traffickers’ nabbed in Marikina firing range sting
PHILIPPINE National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) director, Major General Romeo M. Caramat Jr., on Saturday, announced the arrest of two suspected illegal gun traffickers during a sting inside the ARMSCOR firing range in Marikina City, which led to the confiscation of three high-powered guns and ammunition.
Arrested by members of the CIDG Rizal Provincial Field Unit (PFU) headed by Major Leopoldo B. Cajipe during the entrapment operation were a 30-year-old construction worker and an alleged ARMSCOR company driver, the official said.
Caramat said that a third suspect, a police sergeant assigned to Marikina City Police Station 6, managed to escape during the operation and is still being sought by his men.
The cop was seen in the video taking the weapons they were selling from the trunk of his vehicle before leaving the place, apparently sensing the presence of undercover officers in the area.
According to the PNP-CIDG director, his men conducted the sting with the support of the local police inside the firing range in Barangay Fortune in Marikina City past 1 p.m. last Wednesday.
The two suspects were arrested shortly after they received the P45,000 buy-bust money from an undercover officer who posed as a buyer of the guns they were selling.
Recovered during the operation were one caliber 9mm Uzi machine pistol, one cal. .45 Medallion semi-automatic pistol, one cal. 9mm Tanfoglio pistol, four .45 magazines with 21 live ammunition, two 9mm magazines with 11 bullets, an Uzi magazine and a pistol case.
A motorcycle used by the suspects was also impounded by the Rizal CIDG.
“Itong mga suspek na ito ay gumagamit ng social media at mga tawag/text sa cellphone sa pagsasagawa ng kanilang iligal na pagbebenta ng mga baril at mga bala sa loob ng probinsya ng Rizal at mga kalapit na lungsod. Patuloy pa rin pinaghahanap ng batas ang suspek na pulis upang managot ito at mabigyan ng karampatang parusa,” Caramat said.
The suspects are now facing criminal charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2003.
