THE Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has apprehended an alleged online seller of unlicensed firearms in Pampanga province during an entrapment operation.
In a statement on Monday, CIDG chief Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III identified the suspect, known by the alias “Oliver,” who was arrested on November 22 in front of a mall parking area in Barangay Lagundi, Mexico town.
The suspect was caught in the act of selling unlicensed firearms to an undercover police officer.
Items Seized from the Suspect
Authorities confiscated several items from the suspect, including:
*One Colt Upper Receiver (Barrel) for a caliber 5.56 rifle
*One Bushmaster Lower Receiver for a caliber 5.56 rifle
*One Bolt Carrier Assembly for a caliber 5.56 rifle
*A steel magazine, rifle bag, and a mobile phone
*A Mitsubishi Space Gear vehicle
*99 pieces of PHP 1,000 boodle money (fake cash used in operations)
A subsequent search yielded additional items, including:
*A caliber .22 SW22 Victory pistol with an optic and suppressor
*A caliber .45 MKIV Colt pistol with an optic
*Steel magazines, ammunition, and a sling bag
The seized items are currently undergoing verification.
Legal Action
Brig. Gen. Torre stated that the suspect and the confiscated items are under the custody of the CIDG Pampanga Provincial Field Unit. Charges will be filed for violations of Republic Act (RA) 10591 (Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition) in relation to Section 6 of RA 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act).
Central Luzon Firearms Crackdown
In a related development, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 3 in Central Luzon reported the seizure of 842 firearms during operations conducted from October 1 to November 23.
Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, PRO 3 Director, disclosed that 239 individuals were arrested for violating RA 10591 during this period. The confiscated firearms included:
832 short firearms
10 light weapons
Of these, 280 were seized through law enforcement operations, including search warrants and checkpoint activities. An additional 153 were voluntarily surrendered by their owners, while 409 were collected through the Revitalized Katok Program, where police visit gun owners to encourage the renewal of expired licenses or permits.
The CIDG and PRO 3 continue their intensified campaign against illegal firearms, ensuring public safety and compliance with firearms regulations.