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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider CIDG seizes loose firearms from 2 Singaporeans, 1 Filipino

CIDG seizes loose firearms from 2 Singaporeans, 1 Filipino

Published Apr 19, 2025 03:02 am

Less than a month before the midterm elections in May, authorities arrested two Singaporeans and a Filipino allegedly involved in gun-running activities, and confiscated from them assorted high-powered firearms, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported on Black Saturday, April 19.

The PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) identified the suspects as Desmond and Louis Poh, both Singapore nationals, and a certain “Mark”, a protection agent.

The suspects were caught while in possession of ten loose firearms and an airsoft replica amid the election gun ban during a buy-bust operation conducted by the CIDG Detection and Special Operations Unit (DSOU) in Brgy. Ge. T. De Leon, Valenzuela City on Maundy Thursday, April 17, according to PNP-CIDG Director Major Gen. Nicolas Torre III.

The CIDG said the operation dubbed Oplan Paglalansag Omega, a crackdown on loose firearms and private armed groups, stemmed from a report that the suspects were allegedly selling loose firearms in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Seized from the suspects were an M-15 rifle, a Garand M2 carbine, an MK-9 sub-machine gun, an MKG 9mm rifle, four caliber 9mm pistols, a caliber 45 pistol, and a caliber 22 pistol. They also yielded various magazines and live ammunition.

Torre commended the CIDG’s DSOU for the arrest of the three gun-running suspects and the seizure of the arms cache.

“With the confiscation of these loose firearms and apprehension of the possessors, we significantly accounted and suppressed the so-called ‘guns, goons, and gold’ of Philippine politics, and thereby, we prevented its use and utilization for the coming election,” he noted.

The suspects were charged with violation of Republic Act No. 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Regulation Act.

Related Tags

Singaporean Philippine National Police (PNP) midterm elections Nicolas Torre III loose firearms Private armed groups CIDG
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