Two men were arrested by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) allegedly for selling unlicensed firearms and ammunition inside the Armscor Firing Range in Barangay Fortune, Marikina City.
CIDG chief MGen. Romeo Caramat Jr. identified the suspects as Jeffrey Javier Dimaano, 30, a construction worker; and Joey Delarama Espana, 47, a driver of Armscor.
According to the report released on Sunday, June 25, the suspects were arrested during a buy-bust operation conducted by the CIDG Rizal Provincial Field Unit and other Philippine National Police (PNP) units on June 21.
Recovered during the operation were a 9mm Uzi; a .45-caliber Medallion pistol; a 9mm Tanfoglio pistol; four magazines for .45-caliber gun; two magazines for 9mm pistol, a magazine for the Uzi; 21 rounds of live ammunition for .45-caliber gun; 11 rounds of ammunition for a 9mm gun; and a black case for a .45-caliber pistol.
Other confiscated items were 44 pieces of P1,000 bill used as boodle money, a grey Yamaha Nmax, and two cellphones.
Caramat said the suspects used social media and call or text on their cellphones to conduct the illegal sale of guns and ammunition within Rizal Province and nearby cities.
Another suspect identified as Carmelo Senar Frias, a personnel from the Eastern Police District (EPD) Station 6, eluded arrest, police said.
“Patuloy paring pinaghahanap ng batas ang suspek na pulis upang managot ito at mabigyan ng karampatang parusa (We are still searching for the suspect who is a police officer in order to make him accountable and face the appropriate punishment),” Caramat added.
The suspects are facing charges for violation of Republic Act No. 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.