Firearms missing from Binondo police station

An in-depth investigation is now underway over the missing 17 high-powered firearms from the armory of the Binondo police station.

An inventory of policemen’s firearms was undertaken yesterday by Superintendent Bernardo Diaz, incoming chief of the Binondo police station, and found Armalite assault rifles and shotguns missing from the armory.

The firearms were earlier reported by Superintendent Hospicio Guevarra, former chief of the Binondo police station, as "unaccounted" for.

According to Diaz, he has appointed SPO1 Edgar Pante as the new supply officer of the police station.

The station’s former property custodian, SPO2 Antonio Constantino Jr., has been absent without official leave (AWOL) since March.

Manila Police District (MPD) director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong ordered Logistics Division chief Superintendent Remigio Sedanto to conduct a thorough probe on the incident and to account for the missing firearms.

He also directed Superintendent George Gaddi, chief of the District Intelligence and Investigation Division (DIID), to find Constantino and ask him to explain the circumstances surrounding the missing firearms.

Bulaong said such high-powered firearms should be returned to police custody since it can be used by unscrupulous individuals to commit crimes.