By Martin Sadongdong A cache of high-powered firearms and about 5,700 rounds of assorted ammunition allegedly kept and sold illegally by two gun enthusiasts have been seized by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) in Dasmarinas, Cavite, a ranking police official disclosed Tuesday. Police Major General Amador Corpus, CIDG director, identified the arrested suspects as Joseph De Lima, 54, and Rolly Iliw-Iliw, 39, both operators of the Precision Gunsite Inc. firing range whose license to operate has already expired. De Lima and Iliw-Iliw were nabbed by joint elements of the CIDG-National Capital Region (NCR) and CIDG-Calabarzon (Region 4A) at the compound of the Precision Gunsite Inc. in Barangay Langkaan 2, Sitio Humayao in Dasmarinas around 2 p.m. Monday. Police Lieutenant Colonel Arnold Thomas Ibay, CIDG-NCR regional chief, said the troops conducted a buy-bust operation against the suspects where they were able to buy assorted ammunition from them. “The suspects are both gun enthusiasts and at the same time, they were also selling ammunition, hence, the conduct of the operation. We bought ammunition from them and then we served the search warrant for the long and short firearms," Ibay said in Pilipino. "Mayroon din po silang firing range na ginagamit kaya lang expired na po. Ito po ang dahilan kung bakit po sinearch warrant (They have a firing range but its license has already expired. This is the reason why we conducted the search warrant)," he added. Although the firing range's license has already expired, Ibay said it remains operational for one year until the CIDG caught up with them. Seized from the two men were three caliber 5.56 rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun, a caliber .9mm pistol, three caliber .45 pistols, more than 5,700 rounds of assorted ammunition, a kilogram of gunpowder, three boxes of unknown caliber of ammunition heads, and assorted gun parts and accessories. According to Corpus, the operation is part of PNP's campaign against loose firearms to secure the upcoming May 13 midterm elections. "Ito po ay project ng CIDG kasi ito po ang mandate namin for the midterm elections as directed by the Chief PNP especially in reducing election risk factors (This is a project of the CIDG because this is our mandate for the midterm elections as directed by the Chief PNP especially in reducing election risk factors)," he stressed. The CIDG director said they were coordinating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to determine whether there are government-owned ammunition and guns from the seized items. “Majority are green tip. From what I know, if it is a green tip, that's not ordinary ammunition. A green tip is usually intended for the whole barrel. The barrel is thicker and if it is used in a regular M16 , the gun will be destroyed because it is a powerful ammunition," Corpus explained in Pilipino He said that the AFP is conducting an investigation to determine the source of the ammunition.