Police officer, 2 soldiers nabbed for alleged gunrunning in Cotabato

A police officer and two soldiers were arrested by the Philippine National Police in separate operations for alleged gunrunning.

According to a "24 Oras" report by Jun Veneracion on Wednesday, the police officer was arrested in Cotabato City on Wednesday morning, while his colleagues were able to escape.

Authorities were able to seize two M16 rifles that he was allegedly selling for P160,000.

“Just imagine, naka-uniform [at] nagbebenta ng illegal firearms. Ito yung warning natin sa lahat ng ating kapulisan, na yung ganitong gawain ay walang puwang sa ating hanay,” said PNP-CIDG Director Police Major General Leo Francisco.

(Just imagine, he is in uniform [and] selling illegal firearms. This is our warning to all our police officers, that this activity does not have any place in our ranks)

The police are still looking into his connections, possible customers, and will conduct further probe into his selling activities.

“Ito ay maaring napupunta sa iba't ibang klaseng grupo, particularly sa criminal elements, kaya yan ang ating ginagawa para maaccount talaga natin ang mga illegal firearms,” said Francisco.

(This may have been going to different types of groups, particularly in criminal elements, which is why this is what we are doing to account for illegal firearms)

“We will secure a court warrant para mabuksan namin 'yung cellphone na na-seize sa possession niya,” added CIDG BAR Regional Chief PLTC Ariel Huesca.

(We will secure a court warrant so that we can open the phone that we have seized from his possession)

Meanwhile, two CAFGU members of the Philippine Army were nabbed in a buy-bust operation at Cotabato last week for alleged involvement in the sale of illegal firearms.

"When these two CAFGU na nahuli, they voluntarily confided sa mga CIDG [investigator] na 'yung baril na ibinenta nila sa poseur buyer namin ay galing sa isang uniformed personnel of Philippine Army,” Huesca said.

(When these two CAFGU were caught, they voluntarily confided to the CIDG [investigators] that the gun they were selling to the poseur buyers came from personnel of the Philippine Army)

All three suspects are currently in the custody of the PNP-CIDG in Cotabato, which is also coordinating with the Philippine Army to identify the alleged source of the firearms for the two suspects in the military.

The suspects may face charges for violating the comprehensive law on firearms and ammunition. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News