NATIONAL Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director, Major General Vicente D. Danao Jr. on Thursday announced the arrest of eight men including a Manila policeman and a fake National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agent for their involvement in gun trafficking and sale of suspected stolen motor vehicles.

He said the two-day operation started around 5 p.m. last September 3 where two of the suspects identified as Arman Estanol and Jon Marvin Toledo were arrested in an entrapment operation in SM Bacoor City in Cavite.

Recovered from the possession of the two were a Mitsubishi Expander without plate number as well as suspected spurious Land Transportation Office registration papers.

Members of the NCRPO Regional Intelligence Division-Anti-Carnapping Task Group and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion under the supervision of Colonel Hansel M. Marantan, the Police Regional Office 4-A Regional Intelligence Division under Brigadier Gen. Eliseo DC Cruz and the Regional Highway Patrol Group 4-A headed by Lieutenant Col. Samson Belmonte were involved in the sting which led in the arrest of the two after they sold the suspected stolen vehicle to an undercover officer.

A follow-up operation conducted by operatives of the NCRPO RID-ACTG and RMFB, Parañaque City Police Station, PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group under Brig. Gen. Flyyn E. Dongbo and the Manila Police District under Brig. Gen. Leo M. Francisco led to the arrest of Police Staff Sergeant Michael Salinas of the MPD Station 1 and three civilians including Edwin Justo who presented fake NBI identification papers, Bern Bryan Pingol and Arnold Aron Marauda.

Recovered from the possession of the suspects were an KG9 9mm submachine gun with two magazines containing 15 live ammunition, a Glock 9m semi-automatic pistol with a magazine containing eight bullets, a Roni kit for a 9mm Glock pistol, one Glock 17 9mm pistol with a magazine containing five live ammunition and fake NBI identification cards and emblem.

Two motor vehicles: a Mitsubishi Expander and a Honda City were also seized from the suspects.

Danao said another follow-up operation conducted at Sun Valley Subdivision in Antipolo City around 1 p.m. last Saturday led to the arrest of two other suspects identified as Enrique and Fernando de Guzman who were described by the NCRPO as involved in the sale of motor vehicles with fraudulent registration papers in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

The NCRPO director said his men are checking information that the two are particularly the ‘source’ of high-end SUVs and vans being offered to both witting and unwitting buyers in the metropolis.

Recovered from the suspects were one white Toyota Alphard without plate number, a black Hummer H3 and several suspected fake LTO documents as well as an LTO Certificate of Registration and Official Receipt under the name of one Doris Lao Madam and one Virginia Ilahi which are being checked by the NCRPO.

All eight suspects have been subjected to virtual inquest proceedings.

Maj. Gen Danao expressed belief that SSgt. Salinas and Justo could be the leaders of the group. “Since they are law enforcers, I presume they are the leaders. Imagine instead of the PNP protecting the interest of the public pero you are protecting the interest of the criminals,” he said.

“We think, this has been ongoing for so long time ago because hindi lang firearms ang binenbenta ng mga ito pati mga vehicles. Kung makikita ninyo yung mga vehicles, this could be a product of carnapping syndicate or “rent-tangay,” the NCRPO chief added.

Danao also said they are checking the possibility that the illegal guns confiscated from the suspects may end up at the hands of partisan armed groups being watched by the police amid the possibility they could be used to sow violence during the forthcoming May 2022 presidential and national elections.

The NCRPO director appealed to those victimized by the group to surface and file additional charges against the accused “We are encouraging the victims ng mga ito to come out in the open para dagdagan po yung kanilang mga kaso,” he said.

He also reiterated his warning on all erring Metro Manila policemen and other law enforcement officers to mend their ways or face the full wrath of the law.

“I would like to issue a strong worded warning to this people especially those who are involved and who will be involved na any law enforcement agency. Lalong lalo na sa PNP na assigned dito sa NCRPO. As the Regional Director of this unit, we will enforce the arm of the law in getting after you. Hindi kami magdadalawang isip to go against you, you take note. We will use the full arm of the law against you,” Danao said.