Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar ordered on Monday, Sept. 13, the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) to look into the alleged selling of loose firearms being done online.
This, as initial investigation revealed that the thousands of disassembled parts of firearms and ammunition recently recovered in a warehouse in Bulacan were reportedly being reassembled to be sold to private armed groups, including via online platforms.
The disassembled parts were police- and military-issued items that were not properly disposed of, according to the investigation.
“In our aggressive campaign against loose firearms as part of the early security preparations for the 2022 elections, we are not discounting the possibility that some gun-running syndicates are using the online platforms for their illegal activities,” Eleazar said.
“Dahil dito, inatasan ko na ang ating Intelligence Group at ang Anti-Cybercrime group na lalong palakasin ang information-gathering at monitoring sa modus na ito,” he added.
Most of the weapon parts confiscated in the warehouse in Bulacan were caliber .50 and M16 rifles.
The Philippine military had ensured that the matter be investigated to determine the source of the firearms.
“Guns are the common instrument in committing crimes that is why we have to step our preemptive campaign through aggressive operations against those who sell them illegally, lalo na at palapit na ang eleksyon kung saan maaring magamit ang mga loose firearms na ito sa pananabotahe at paghahasik ng karahasan,” the PNP Chief said.
(PNP-PIO) – bny
