Cops arrest gun "manufacturer," intensify drive vs. loose firearms

CEBU, Philippines - An alleged gun maker was arrested in Barangay Corte, Carmen town yesterday morning.

This as the Cebu Provincial Police Office announced yesterday it is intensifying its drive against the selling of illegal firearms that is believed to be the cause of the successive shooting incidents that occurred in the province.

Dindo Pitogo, 39, who claimed to be working as a gun manufacturer since he was 16 years old, was arrested by virtue of a search warrant, issued by Regional Trial Court judge Soliver Peras. Operatives from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7, led by Sr. Insp. Ricky Neron, recovered from Pitogo a post drill and an unfinished receiver both used mainly in manufacturing guns.

Pitogo was at the hospital attending to his 12-year-old son who was sick of dengue when the operatives picked him up and took him to his house where the warrant was implemented at past 6 a.m.  

Pitogo admitted he manufactured either .38 and .45 caliber guns and received P6,000 for each gun manufactured. He usually earned P12,000 a month, he said, apart from the sari-sari store and videoke house he and his wife own.

The suspect said all his clients were policemen and soldiers from the 78th Infantry Battalion. He never had a civilian customer, he added.

In fact, Pitogo said his “business” has been recognized in his place that even the barangay captain, policemen, and other government officials knew about it.

He also claimed the recovered receiver is owned by a policeman who is now assigned in Camotes Island.

Pitogo will be charged for violation of Republic Act 8294 or Illegal possession of firearms.  

Meanwhile, CPPO director Erson Digal said he went to Danao City Thursday to meet with the local officials and talk about the regulation of firearm manufacturing in the area.

Digal said they already talked to the mayor and vice mayor as well as to the policemen from the Danao City Police Station and planned how they could control the manufacture and selling of firearms in the city. (THE FREEMAN)