Ex-soldier, cop nabbed over alleged illegal firearms sale in Pangasinan

MANILA, Philippines—A former soldier and an active police officer were arrested in Pangasinan for allegedly trading firearms, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said on Wednesday.

The CIDG Pangasinan Provincial Field Unit, along with the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) Luzon Field Unit and the Villasis Municipal Police Station, conducted the operation at 1:35 p.m. on Tuesday in Barangay Puelay.

The CIDG said one suspect was a former Philippine Army member, while the other was an active noncommissioned officer of the PNP.

READ: 2 cops nabbed for alleged illegal gun sale in Caloocan City

The suspects were allegedly caught trading and selling a 5.56-caliber Bushmaster rifle and a .45-caliber pistol, neither of which was registered with the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office.

Authorities also recovered a 9mm pistol from the police officer.

The suspects face charges for alleged violations of Republic Act No. 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

They were informed of the grounds for their arrest and their constitutional rights before being taken to the CIDG office in Urdaneta City for documentation and further legal proceedings.

In a statement on Wednesday, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said police officers must be held accountable for any wrongdoing established through due process, regardless of rank or position.

“If anyone is found to have violated the law, they must be held accountable, regardless of who they are, with no one given special protection,” Nartatez said. /mcm