Rookie cop, 4 others arrested for alleged gunrunning

MANILA, Philippines – Five suspected gunrunners, including a rookie policeman, were arrested over the weekend, Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr. of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said Wednesday.

The suspects who were arrested inside the Police Non-Commissioned Officer (PNCO) quarters in Camp Crame around 12 noon on Saturday were identified as Police Officer 1 Jerome Javier, 26, assigned at HSS in Camp Crame and resident of Asalea street, Maligaya Park Subdivision, North Caloocan; Jordan Abero, 26, resident of Ignacia street, Tandang Sora, Quezon City; Virgilio Catangay, 48, of  Bungahan village, Cuenca, Batangas City; Arnold Valencia, 33, of Tandang Sora, Old Balara, Quezon City, and all project supervisor of AC Cunanan Construction, Inc.; and Flor Beros, 39, of Salmon street Letre Road, Caloocan City, said Pagdilao.

They were arrested while Javier was negotiating the sale of two .45 caliber pistols believed to be locally fabricated in Cebu to the three civilians, he said.

Three caliber .45 pistols, four magazines for caliber .45, extra barrels for .45, silencers and live ammunitions were seized from the suspects, Pagdilao said.

Pagdilao said that a Flor Beros was identified by Javier as his alleged supplier of illegal firearms who was also arrested later that day in an entrapment operation.

All suspects were charged with illegal possession of firearms at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office, Pagdilao said.