Unlicensed Bulacan gunsmith yields high-powered firearms

POLICE arrested a gunsmith in Sta. Maria, Bulacan, on Saturday and confiscated over a dozen guns, including high-powered firearms and ammunition.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said the suspect, Wenceslao Bernardo, could not present documents authorizing him to operate as a gunsmith.

“He failed to present a license from the Firearms and Explosives Office in Camp Crame allowing him to operate a gunsmith shop. There were also no licenses for the firearms, ammunition and accessories seized,” said Chief Insp. Elizabeth Jasmin, CIDG spokesperson.

CIDG operatives in Bulacan, armed with a search warrant, raided Bernardo’s shop at Barangay Pulong Buhangin in Sta. Maria town. Recovered were 12 handguns and three high-powered firearms as well as assorted ammunition and gun parts.

The handguns included: a .45-cal. Colt pistol, a .45-cal. Norinco pistol, three .45-cal. pistols with no brand name etched on it, one 9-mm pistol with no brand name, one .32-cal. pistol without a serial number and brand name; a .38-cal. Smith and Wesson revolver, a .38 -cal. Armscor revolver, two .38-cal. revolvers without serial numbers or brand names, one .380 pistol with no brand name and three .22-cal. Black Widow revolvers.

Authorities also found in the shop one .45-cal. Thompson submachine gun, a 12-gauge Bentlet shotgun, and a disassembled M16 Armalite rifle.

Also recovered were gun paraphernalia such as four black plastic folding butts for .30-cal. rifles, a brown wooden butt for an unknown rifle, 14 stainless .45-cal. magazines, a 9-mm magazine, a .380 magazine, four metal hand guards for an M16 rifle and two silencers, among others things.

The search   was witnessed by local officials.

According to police, Bernardo will be brought for inquest before the Bulacan provincial prosecutor’s office in Malolos City for violation of Republic Act No. 10591, the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

Jasmin said the firearms would be turned over to the Bulacan provincial crime laboratory for evaluation.