TEN loose firearms have been seized by agents of the Laguna Police Provincial Office (PPO) this month amid its ongoing crackdown on holders of illegal guns that can be used to disrupt peace and order, particularly during the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election (BSKE) in October, the Journal Group learned on Sunday.

According to Laguna police director, Colonel Randy Glenn G. Silvio, a buy-bust operation in Barangay Halayhayin in Siniloan municipality on Friday led to the arrest of three suspects after they conspired to sell an unlicensed weapon to an undercover officer.

Silvio said that all three suspects are residents of Santa Maria town and believed to be part of a “partisan armed group” (PAG) under the employ of a local politician.

He said that the suspects were arrested at 11:45 a.m. Friday by members of the Siniloan Municipal Police Station (MPS) and the Laguna PPO’s Special Operations Unit (SOU).

Recovered during the sting was an unlicensed cal. .45 Colt pistol with a magazine containing seven live ammunition, one cal. .38 revolver with defaced serial numbers and with six bullets and the buy-bust money topped by two marked P1,000 bills.

Silvio said that the three have long being monitored by his men for their involvement in illegal gun-running activities in the province, apart from being connected to a local politician’s PAG.

The arrest of the three came two days after the wife of one of the three accused turned over to the Santa Maria MPS two of her husband’s guns, whose licenses have been revoked.

The weapons surrendered are composed of a Colt caliber 5.5 M-16 automatic rifle, a cal. .40 semi-automatic pistol, a 30-rounder M-16 plastic magazine, 27 rounds of live M-16 ammunition, and 27 pieces of cal. .40 bullets.

Silvio said that the suspect’s wife, a resident of Bgy. Coralan surrendered the guns and ammunition to the local police.

The official said that last February, his men raided the residence of one of the suspects but failed to recover any weapons.

In the aftermath of the raid, the Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office (PNP-FEO), headed by Brigadier General Paul Kenneth T. Lucas, revoked the License to Own and Possess Firearms or LTOFP of the target of the raid identified as alias “Uoy” for violation of Republic Act (RA) 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 last March 29.

“Uoy” is the registered owner of one M-16 rifle and three pistols.

Last Thursday, Calamba City policemen also arrested a resident of a subdivision in Bgy. Labas after he sold a 9mm Llama pistol with a magazine containing eight bullets to an undercover officer in Bgy. Banlic.

The suspect also yielded the buy-bust money topped by a marked P500 bill.

Also, last Friday, members of the Siniloan MPS arrested a caretaker of a house in Bgy. General Luna for illegal possession of a cal. .38 revolver with six bullets.

Last May 18, a member of the Calamba City Police Station arrested a 38-year-old suspect during an entrapment operation in Bgy. Bucal, which led to the recovery of nearly six grams of shabu valued at P38,000 and an unlicensed cal. .38 revolver with three live ammunition.

Last May 20, Silvio said that the Pakil Police Station arrested a 48-year-old farmer inside his house in Bgy. Banilan. Officers who raided the suspect’s residence recovered an unlicensed cal. .22 revolver with six bullets, an estimated P1,500 worth of shabu, and an improvised tooter.

In Liliw town, local policemen arrested a 56-year-old driver from Bgy. Masikap over gun-toting charges filed by his neighbor.

The suspect who yielded a cal. .38 replica is now facing criminal charges for grave threat and violation of RA 10591, specifically the use of an imitation firearm.

Another gun-toting incident in Bgy. Salasad in Magdalena town led to the arrest of a member of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) last May 19.

The suspect yielded a cal. .38 revolver with five live ammunition. He failed to present any gun papers and was charged with violation of RA 10591.

Silvio said that on orders of Police Regional Office (PRO) 4-A director Brigadier Gen. Carlito M. Gaces, they have stepped up their effort to account for more illegal firearms and drugs in the province.