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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Bato alarmed at sophisticated weapons confiscated from Chinese nationals linked to POGO-related kidnappings

Bato alarmed at sophisticated weapons confiscated from Chinese nationals linked to POGO-related kidnappings

Published Jan 31, 2023 02:30 pm

Senator Ronald ‘’Bato’’ dela Rosa is alarmed at the high-powered, hard-to-find hand guns confiscated from workers of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) who are allegedly involved in kidnappings.

Based on the value of the guns that are not licensed and not recorded in the Philippines, it is not farfetched to assume that the possessors of these guns are not members of ordinary organized crime groups, dela Rosa said.

The former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief theorized that armed Chinese could soon come out in the open and declare that the Philippines as theirs.

Dela Rosa blurted this out when Pasay City Police Chief Byron Tabernilla talked about three Chinese nationals who were arrested after they were reportedly named to the kidnapping of a Malaysian national.

Seized from them were a Kimber gun and a CZ 75 that were not recorded by the PNP Firearms and Explosives Unit (FEU).

Dela Rosa said a Kimber gun is the most expensive firearm that he was able to buy.

He asked aloud how the Chinese nationals were able to purchase the gun and how were the weapons brought into the country.

This only shows how loose is government control on the spread of such guns, he said.

These were revealed in today’s public hearing by the Senate Public Order and Dangerous Drugs Committee chaired by dela Rosa himself.

Dela Rosa presided over the reopening of a public hearing on the reported kidnapping incidents in the country as disclosed by Senator Grace Poe in a privilege speech delivered on Dec. 14, 2022.

The Senate panel had adjourned its investigation into the alleged rising number of kidnapping cases victimizing mostly Chinese and members of the Filipino-Chinese community.

In the course of its investigation, the committee found that there was no surge in kidnappings and disappearances in the country from January to September 2022.

However, some of the incidents that allegedly happened in the country were not officially reported to the proper authorities.

Related Tags

POGOs bato dela rosa PNP Chinese nationals POGO-related kidnappings
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