PNP, AFP start joint probe on guns, ammo seized from alleged terrorist suppliers
By Martin Sadongdong
The Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed on Tuesday that it has started to coordinate with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to determine the source of the arrested couple who was allegedly supplying high-powered firearms and ammunition to threat groups.
PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde and NCRPO Chief Guillermo Eleazar inspect the seized several firearms and ammunition from arrested big-time gun runners Edgardo Medel and Rose Marie Medel at Camp Crame. (ALVIN KASIBAN / MANILA BULLETIN)
PNP chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde said he has initiated talks with General Filemon Santos Jr., the commanding general of the Seventh Infantry Division (7ID) of the Philippine Army (PA) based in Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation in Palayan, Nueva Ecija, as part of their joint investigation.
“I have already coordinated with who is my classmate and nakapagkasunduan nga na we will be conducting a joint investigation and they are so much willing to cooperate dito sa gagawing imbestigasyon. Sabi nga natin na this is a serious matter,” Albayalde told reporters in Camp Crame after the PNP Christmas Party.
(I have already coordinated with who is my classmate and we agreed that we will be conducting a joint investigation and they are so much willing to cooperate in the probe. Like what we have said, this is a serious matter.)
On Monday, Albayalde and National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Guillermo Eleazar presented before the media two rifles, a handgun and 12,893 rounds of live ammunition seized from Edgardo Medel, 46, and his wife Rosemarie, 34.
The suspects were apprehended at a service station along North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) in Valenzuela City Sunday night after undercover agents of the NCRPO Regional Special
Operations Unit (RSOU) managed to buy P1.2 million worth of unlicensed firearms and bullets from them.
The confiscated items were found in two military wooden crates which bore markings of “Government Property,” “AFP,” and “Philippine Army.” The crates have also its corresponding serial numbers.
Albayalde said the suspects have a source in Nueva Ecija where they readily get the supply of the guns and ammunition. The source, according to the PNP Chief, is a retired soldier.
The couple were also found to have transactions with threat groups in Mindanao such as Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), Maute Group and private armed groups (PAGs) of rogue politicians, he added.
Dangerous
Albayalde expressed concern about the discovery of the bulk of arms and ammunition as he raised the possibility that the seized bullets may have been the same ammunition used by various threat groups to kill state forces.
“Kung talagang totoo na nanggaling sa arsenal nila ito napakadelikado nito. Napakarami. Almost 13,000 rounds and high-powered firearms na nanggaling doon at pumupunta sa kamay ng mga terrorists or even criminal groups lalo na sa parteng Mindanao,” he added.
(If these items really came from their arsenal, this is very dangerous. It’s a lot. Almost 13,000 rounds and high-powered firearms from them which end up in the hands of terrorists or even criminal groups, especially in Mindanao.)
Albayalde said more dialogues between the PNP and Army’s 7th Infantry Division will be held in the coming days to identify the retired soldier who allegedly supplied the guns and bullets to the arrested couple.
“He assured me that they will cooperate in the conduct of the joint investigation together with the NCRPO,” he concluded.