PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Dionardo B. Carlos has ordered the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to further intensify their campaign against firearm traffickers in the country amid their efforts from illegal being used to disrupt the May 9 national and local elections, officials the Journal Group yesterday.

The crackdown against illegal gun traffickers in the country comes vis-à-vis with the strict enforcement of the nationwide prohibition on the unauthorized carrying of firearms in the streets.

Since last January 9, PNP agents across the country have already arrested more than 1,400 gun ban violators including 12 police personnel, nine members of the Armed Forces and 18 security guards. The rest are civilians who were found carrying guns, other deadly weapons and ammunition in the streets in violation of a directive from the Commission on Elections.

A PNP report said the gun ban enforcement has led to the confiscation of nearly 800 handguns, 37 light weapons, over 500 deadly weapons, more than 450 bladed weapons, over 60 explosives, 55 gun replicas and more than 6,200 assorted live ammunition.

The top cop’s directive has resulted in a number of arrests and gun seizures particularly in Metro Manila where operatives of the CIDG National Capital Region Field Unit headed by Colonel Randy Glenn G. Silvio have arrested dozens of known firearm traffickers, said a report from PNP-CIDG director, Major Gen. Albert Ignatius D. Ferro.

Last week, CIDG-NCRFU agents arrested nine street-level gun traffickers in separate buy-bust operations in the metropolis.

“This is part of our effort to arrest the presence of illegal firearms that could be used to commit violence ahead of the May 9 polls,” said Col. Silvio.

The official said the nine arrested suspects have been monitored to be involved in illegal firearms trafficking in different parts of Metro Manila with some of them also known to be engaged in drug dealing and even connected to gun-for-hire rings.

He said that two of the suspects identified as Joseph Lumapas,39; and Jay-R Maquinad,36, were arrested after they conspired to sell two handguns to an undercover officer in Cavite Street corner Severino Reyes St. in Barangay 220, Manila around 7:30 p.m. last February 20.

Silvio said that prior to the sting, one of their informants approached them and revealed that the two have asked him to look for a buyer of a caliber .45 pistol and one cal. .38 revolver for P30,000 in exchange for a commission.

The duo initially asked the informant to meet them in Dagat-Dagatan, Caloocan City but later asked him to proceed to Cavite Street where they were arrested during a sting which led to the recovery of a cal. .45 pistol with serial no. 183871, a cal. .38 revolver with serial no. 138709, a cal. .45 magazine and the P30,000 worth of boodle money topped by a marked P500 bill.

The two others identified as Mark Angelo Montero,29; and Jovita Pangilinan,55, both residents of Bgy. Pembo, Makati City were arrested in an entrapment operation along Pant St. corner Palawan St. in Bgy. Pitogo, Makati City past 9 p.m. of the same day.

Confiscated from the possession of the duo were two cal. .38 revolvers with six live ammunition, six five plastic sachets containing suspected shabu, a weighing scale and the marked money paid to them by an undercover officer.

The rest were arrested last February 21.

Two of them identified as Tondo residents Marlon delos Santos,32; and Renato Intano,49, were arrested in a buy-bust operation along Arzobispo corner Anda Streets in Intramuros, Manila.

Col. Silvio said his men from the CIDG Manila District Field Unit, in coordination with the Manila Police District (MPD) under Brigadier Gen. Leo M. Francisco arrested the two who yielded an improvised shotgun, the boodle money topped by a marked P500 bill and five heat-sealed plastic sachets containing suspected shabu.

The 3rd identified as Ronald Hilario, a 42-year old resident of Herrera St. in Tondo was arrested after he sold a home-made shotgun to a Manila CIDG poseur for P2,500 along Magallanes St. in Intramuros.

The two others identified as Jenny Manliquez,32; and Kenneth Capellan,40, were arrested in a buy-bust operation in Pook Area 17 in Malinis Amorsolo St. in Bgy. UP Campus, Quezon City.

Silvio said operatives from the CIDG Q.C. District Field Unit and the Q.C. Police District Intelligence Division under Brig. Gen. Remus B. Medina recovered a cal. .45 rifle without serial numbers, three live cal. .45 ammunition and the marked money from the suspects’ possession.

He added that Manliguez yielded a plastic box with four heat-sealed plastic sachets containing some 1.2 grams of shabu worth P5,000 and two crumpled aluminum foil.

Silvio said the two are believed to be members of the Jerico Criminal Gang involved in gunrunning, drug trafficking and gun-for-hire activities as well as swapping of firearms for shabu in different parts of Q.C.

All the suspects are facing charges for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 in relation to Comelec Resolution 10728 or the gun ban.

Delos Santos, Intano and Manliguez were also charged for violation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.