'No missing firearms in Taguig'

MANILA, Philippines - Former Taguig City administrator Wilfredo Villar slammed Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano for his apparent grandstanding and denied the lawmaker’s accusation yesterday during a Senate inquiry on the recent hostage-taking incident that 55 firearms bought by the city government during the past administration are now missing.

Villar said in a statement all city-owned firearms have been donated to the Taguig City police, although some units are still being processed for proper turnover, including those that were formerly assigned to the Taguig Mobile Patrol Group (TMPG).

He stressed that during their administration, four firearms were lost while in the custody of their assigned users, and these were properly reported and documented.

“Sen. Cayetano should refrain from making irresponsible and baseless statements. There are no missing firearms. If they have a case against us, then file it in court, rather than using his congressional immunity and the Senate floor to fabricate lies against political foes and prosecute us by trial by publicity,” Villar said.