MANILA, Philippines — Two Caloocan City police will be facing dismissal proceedings after being arrested for allegedly selling unlicensed firearms, Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Thursday.
In a press briefing held at Camp Crame, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the two active cops with the ranks of Police Staff Sgt. and Police Master Sgt., both assigned to the Caloocan City Police Station, were arrested in a buy-bust operation at around 5:30 a.m. on Thursday for gunrunning.
He said the suspects will face charges for violating Sections 28 and 29 of Republic Act No. 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, as well as administrative charges
“I-dismiss ko yung pulis at i-di-dismiss din ni National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Regional Director Maj. Gen Anthony Aberin not only for criminal cases but administrative cases shall be filed at putol na kaagad ‘yung suweldo nito, Alaws-P or Absence of leave without pay,” Nartatez said.
(I will dismiss the police officer and National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Regional Director Maj. Gen Anthony Aberin will also dismiss him not only for criminal cases but administrative cases shall be filed and his salary will be cut immediately. Alaws- P or Absence of leave without pay.)
In photos during the operation, it was noticeable that the erring cops were wearing their full police uniforms, a violation Nartatez said is another immediate ground for dismissal.
“Ito nagsusuot ng police uniform and a policeman in committing a crime, yan ang reresolba natin yan ang ginagawa natin sa PNP of course mahirap gawin sa kabaro namin in fact I am mandated and or it’s my oath to protect the badge of the PNP,” Nartatez said.
(This is wearing a police uniform and a policeman in committing a crime, that's what we will resolve, that's what we do at the PNP, of course it's hard to do to our fellow man, in fact I am mandated and or it's my oath to protect the badge of the PNP),” he stressed.
Authorities said the suspects were arrested after meeting a civilian poseur-buyer identified as Bernardo Guinto to complete the supposed sale.
Recovered from the suspects were two PNP-issued firearms: a Pietro Beretta Model 92 DS 9mm pistol with one magazine loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition, and a Taurus 9mm pistol with two magazines loaded with a total of 35 rounds.
Police also seized a.38-caliber revolver loaded with two rounds, a 12-gauge shotgun with four shotgun shells, the marked buy-bust money consisting of one genuine PHP500 bill and two boodle PHP1,000 bills, two mobile phones, and two motorcycles.
Nartatez said the two suspects were brought to the Caloocan police station for documentation and they will be inquest on Thursday before the concerned court in Caloocan.
