PNP probes online sale of loose firearms

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has launched a probe into illegal online arms deals following the discovery of a cache of disassembled firearms components and ammunitions that investigators say were intended to be sold online to private armed groups.

On Wednesday, police discovered high-powered firearms and ammunition in raids on warehouses in Quezon City and Sta. Maria, Bulacan.

PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar yesterday said he has ordered the Intelligence and Anti-Cybercrime Group to look into the suspected arms deals taking place online, noting the scale of the problem as the disassembled parts were police and military-issued items that were not “properly disposed of.”

“In our aggressive campaign against loose firearms as part of the early security preparations for the 2022 elections, we are not discounting the possibility that some gun-running syndicates are using the online platforms for their illegal activities,” Eleazar said in a statement.

Most of the firearm components confiscated in Bulacan last week were for caliber .50 and M16 Rifles.

The Philippine military, meanwhile, has assured the public that the matter would be investigated to sniff out the source of the components.

“Guns are the common instrument in committing crimes, that is why we have to step up our preemptive campaign through aggressive operations against those who sell them illegally. Especially now that the elections are near, wherein loose firearms can be used for sabotage and to sow violence,” he said.

Brig. Gen. Valeriano de Leon, regional police director for Central Luzon, said the trend in gun selling today is through the internet.

However, De Leon did not give details on personalities that they have monitored selling guns online and whether these are licensed or unlicensed gun dealers.

The official also did not disclose if Central Luzon police were able to apprehend individuals involved in illegal gun deals online.