Interior Secretary Mar Roxas. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II ordered suspended the operation of eight firearms dealers for failing to account for 116 missing high-powered firearms.
The decision was made after Roxas met with Philippine National Police Civil Security Group (CSG) head Police Director Melito Mabilin and Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO)’s Chief Superintendent Moro Lazo.
Eight companies were stripped of their License to Operate (LTO) after they failed to explain the loss of several imported assault rifles.
Among those suspended were: Ace’s Weapon Dealer; Caliber Defence and Paraordnance System, Inc.; CM Countermeasures, Equipages and Security Technologies; HK Tactical Defense Systems Inc.; Metro Arms Corporation; S & T Philippines Inc.; Urban Industrial Corporation; and Weapons Systems Corporation.
In a statement, Roxas said eight companies have been sent letters “twice” seeking their explanation on the missing firearms.
The dealers, however, failed to explain on the matter.
“The dealers will serve their suspension until they are able to account for the missing firearms,” Roxas said.
Based on the records, a total of 17,763 firearms were imported from January 2006 to September this year.
Of the 17,763, only 14,355 were licensed. The 7,328 firearms were licensed to individuals while juridical entities have 7,027 licensed firearms.
When the inventory was ordered sometime in March amid the missing AK-47 firearms, 220 caliber 5.56 firearms were discovered.
But the dealers only recovered 115 units.
For caliber 7.62 firearms, 128 were found but only 117 high-powered have been accounted for.
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