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MANILA, Philippines — More than 5,000 rounds of assorted ammunition were seized by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) from two warehouses in Quezon City and in Bulacan, the PNP said Friday.
A PNP statement said six suspects were arrested in the operation that targeted a Quezon City warehouse. A separate operation on another warehouse in Sta. Maria, Bulacan meanwhile yielded a reassembled 5.56 rifle, pistols, several gun parts for reassembly, and various ammunition rounds.
PNP chief Guillermo Eleazar said he wants a deeper investigation to be conducted following reports that the warehouses were being maintained by a syndicate involved in the sale of firearms to criminals and “private goons” in Mindanao.
“I would like to commend our AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and PNP personnel for busting this syndicate responsible for the illegal manufacture and sale of firearms and ammunition,” Eleazar said in a statement.
“These operations prevented the proliferation of more loose firearms that could have been used to undermine our democratic processes and our right to suffrage, especially that there were reports that this group has been selling firearms to criminals and private goons in Mindanao,” Eleazar added.
Eleazar also ordered the PNP to intensify its crackdown of private armed groups and loose firearms in light of the upcoming 2022 elections.
The PNP previously reported that 73 firearms were also seized in 13 operations from January to August 2021.
Meanwhile, a total of the 65 members of private armed groups were also “neutralized” in police operations. In these operations, the PNP said eight suspects were arrested, one was killed and 56 others surrendered. John Eric Mendoza