Cops arrest gunsmith, seize guns and ammo

Operatives of the Intelligence Research Section of the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division of the Police Regional Office-7 seized fifteen assorted homemade firearms as well as ammunition from the house of a gunsmith in barangay Suba, Danao City, last Friday night.

The alleged gunsmith, Richard Gonzalez, 52, a resident of Durano Street in barangay Suba, was also arrested.

The raiding team headed by S/Insp. Maribel Getigan found six .357 cal. revolvers, a 9mm cal. KG99 sub-machinegun with two back-to-back magazines and two reserve magazines, four .38 cal. revolvers, two homemade .22 cal. revolvers, an original Magnum .22 cal. revolver and a Black Widow .22 cal. revolver.

Searchers also found a plastic box containing several live rounds for assorted calibers.

Regional police director C/Supt. Silverio Alarcio Jr. told reporters that the confiscated guns might be intended for the upcoming elections.

He tried one of the .357 revolvers and joked that the guns are "good for one use only" after scrutinizing their craftsmanship.

"Pang-isang putok lang ito...ito talagang intended sa election lang ito," Alarcio said.

The general added that they have received reports that people come here from as far as Zamboanga just to buy guns.

"We just wanted to ensure that it should not be a bloody election, sana walang gumamit ng baril saka mga goons...we will be focusing on private armed groups and we will be targeting them we are now identifying possible hotspots in the provinces and hopefully we could neutralize them before the elections," Alarcio said.

Alarcio also warned policemen not to dip their hands into politics aside from casting their one vote.

"We can't participate in partisan political activity, what we can only do is to vote and of course we will be providing security but with the authority of the Comelec," he added. - Edwin Ian Melecio/BRP