Guns seized in Pateros

Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group seized a cache of firearms during a raid on a shop of a gunsmith in Pateros yesterday that also resulted in the arrest of the owner.

CIDG director Chief Superintendent Arturo Lomibao said the suspect, identified as Federico Peter Geronimo, was arrested by the virtue of search warrant issued by Judge Florito Macalino, of the Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 67.

Police seized 25 caliber .22 airgun rifles, eight machine pistols, two caliber .45 pistols, a caliber .25 pistol, a caliber .38 and caliber .22 revolvers, an M-16 rifle, a Garand rifle, two rifle grenades, a flare pistol, magazines and bullets, a drill machines, acetylene tanks, grinders and other tools used in the manufacture of gun spare parts.

Lomibao said the operations was conducted by the CIDG’s Counter Terrorism Section after his office received information that Geronimo has been operating without necessary permits.

Police said Geronimo caters to Army soldiers and other gun aficionados who want altercations and conversions of their firearms.

Lomibao said the machine pistols originally meant for paintball sport games were being altered and converted to pistols that can fire live bullets. The search was conducted in the presence of barangay officials.