Firing range loses 50 guns to robbers

A male helper was killed while a gunsmith was hurt when at least six men broke into a firing range and gun store in Parañaque City the other day and carted away 50 firearms, police said yesterday.

Found dead at the firing range of the Weapon System Corp. along San Agustin street in Barangay Moonwalk at around 11:30 a.m. was Rex Dorremon, 27, a stay-in gunsmith helper of the store owned by lawyer Hector Rodriguez.

Gunsmith Zaldy Gabao, 38, who is also in charge of the firing range, was found handcuffed inside the administration office of the store.

City police chief Superintendent Ronald Estilles said Dorremon sustained multiple gunshot wounds in the body as the suspects apparently used him for target practice.

Initial investigation revealed that two men entered the firing range at around 11:45 a.m. last Sunday and posed as customers.

Gabao allowed the two to rent caliber .45 pistols and use the firing range.

While the two were shooting targets at the firing range, four other individuals entered the area, also posing as customers.

Gabao told probers that two from the group asked him to guide them to the restroom.

Estilles said that when they reached the restroom, the two men hit him on the head using the handguns they had rented.

When Gabao regained consciousness, he found himself handcuffed inside the store’s office.

He kept on shouting for help, but was only freed when the secretary and cashier arrived the next day at the store.

Probers said the suspects took from the display and storage cabinet four low-powered riffles and 46 short firearms, estimated at over P1 million.

They also took live ammunition from the stockroom before fleeing on board four motorcycles and two cars.

"This is a simple robbery case," noted Estilles as he downplayed the incident. "And they can’t easily use the firearms anyway since they don’t have firing pins."

Still, police said a thorough investigation and follow-up operation would be conducted. A cartographic sketch of one of the suspects, whom Gabao said dropped by the store to inquire about a purchase, was released by police yesterday afternoon.