PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar. INQUIRER PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Anti-Cybercrime Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP-ACG) has been tasked to look into the sale of illegal and loose firearms online, police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said.
Eleazar on Monday said they found out that the thousands of disassembled parts recently recovered from a Bulacan warehouse were being sold through online platforms.
The parts allegedly being reassembled belong to official firearms issued to police and military units.
The matter should be addressed now, especially as 2022’s national elections are fast approaching, Eleazar said, adding that gun-running syndicates might take advantage of the weapons.
“In our aggressive campaign against loose firearms as part of the early security preparations for the 2022 elections, we are not discounting the possibility that some gun-running syndicates are using the online platforms for their illegal activities,” Eleazar said.
“Dahil dito, inatasan ko na ang ating Intelligence Group at ang Anti-Cybercrime group na lalong palakasin ang information-gathering at monitoring sa modus na ito,” he added.
(Because of this, I have directed our Intelligence Group and the Anti-Cybercrime Group to strengthen our information gathering and monitoring regarding this modus operandi.)
According to Eleazar, most of the disassembled gun parts found were for .50 caliber and M-16 rifles. He also said that the Philippine military has been informed about the developments and has assured to determine the source of the loose firearms.
“Guns are the common instrument in committing crimes that is why we have to step our preemptive campaign through aggressive operations against those who sell them illegally, lalo na at palapit na ang eleksyon kung saan maaring magamit ang mga loose firearms na ito sa pananabotahe at paghahasik ng karahasan,” Eleazar added.
This is not the first operation launched by the PNP against possible gun-running activities in anticipation of the 2022 election season. Last June 18, a suspected gun-runner allegedly selling high-caliber firearms was arrested by Northern Police District (NPD) operatives in Pasay City.
Eleazar also requested a listing of loose firearms, including private weapons not renewed by their owners.
READ: Eleazar: Check if ‘gunrunner’ acting alone
READ: PNP chief wants all loose firearms accounted for