Illegal gun-making facility raided by gov’t; man arrested

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines—Police and military forces raided here, on Saturday, a gun-making facility found illegally manufacturing, repairing or tampering with high-powered firearms.

Government forces seized several guns and paraphernalia and equipment for the repair and manufacture of, and tampering with high-powered firearms.

Recovered from the raid on the house of Gualberto Gonzaga in Doña Soledad Subdivision in Labangal village here, were barrels and butts for an M60 machine gun, a unit receiver assembly of an M60 machine gun, a .45 pistol, .38 revolver, receivers of M16 rifles, assorted bullets, a canister of 155mm bullet, welding machine and paraphernalia and equipment for gun making, repair and tampering, according to Colonel Joselito Kakilala, commanding officer of the Army’s Joint Task Force-Gensan.

Kakilala said the existence of this kind of facility could be considered a serious security threat.

“That’s why we put on our bullet-proof gadgets during the raid because of the high firepower capacity of the target,” he said.

Kakilala said Gonzaga, who was with his family, did not resist arrest.

Senior Superintendent Lester Camba, the police’s deputy regional director for administration, said they were preparing charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives against the suspect.

Camba said Gonzaga had been operating the facility for quite sometime and that nobody in the neighborhood knew about it.

Camba said they were still trying to know Gonzaga’s clients.

Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio hailed the police and military for the efficient intelligence operation leading to the discovery of the facility.