Police seize 5 firearms from alleged Naga City gunrunner

NAGA City, Philippines—Police operatives swooped down on the house of a suspected gunrunner in this city and recovered five firearms early Tuesday.

Senior Police Officer 4 Arthur San Juan Matos, chief of the investigation and intelligence section of the Naga City police, said four .38-cal. revolvers and one magazine-fed improvised shotgun were recovered from the house of the suspect, Nestor De Guzman, 59, in Barangay (village) Concepcion Grande.

De Guzman did not resist arrest but said he had the guns in preparation for the establishment of a security agency in his name. He could not, however, show registration documents for the guns, said Matos.

Intelligence information received by police two weeks ago indicated the man had eight weapons: six .38-cal. revolvers and two magazine-fed improvised shotguns.

A raid was conducted on the strength of a search warrant issued by Judge Jaime Contreras of Regional Trial Court Branch 25.

Matos said De Guzman might have already disposed of two .38-cal. revolvers and one shotgun by the time the raid was conducted. He declined to give details to protect the informants.

De Guzman will be charged with illegal possession of firearms at the city prosecutor’s office, Matos added.