Police arrest Chinese for firearms possession

MANILA, Philippines - Police arrested yesterday a Chinese national and confiscated in his possession 14 pieces of Galil assault rifles and a handgun during a raid in his rented apartment in Las Piñas City.

National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Leocadio Santiago said they are now determining whether the seized firearms were part of the shipment in a failed smuggling try in Mariveles, Bataan last year.

Santiago said each assault firearm is being catered to buyers for P200,000 and the value would rise in the black market.

“We are extending our investigation amid allegations that the confiscated firearms are part of the failed smuggling of similar rifles in Mariveles, Bataan last year,” said Santiago.

The NCRPO chief identified the arrested Chinese as Herbert Tan Tiu, 43, a resident of 1-C Dominic street, Metrocor Southgate, Barangay Talon 3 in Las Piñas City.

A team headed by Chief Inspector Rene de Jesus, of the anti-fraud division of the Regional Police Intelligence and Operation Unit (RPIOU) placed Tiu under surveillance since last week amid reports that he is selling Galil assault rifles to prospective buyers.

After zeroing in on their target, De Jesus’ team swooped down on Tiu’s residence at about 12:35 a.m. yesterday. The raiding team was armed with a search warrant issued by Executive Judge Amor Reyes, of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 21.

The raid was witnessed by Charlie Regilme, the court sheriff of RTC Branch 21, and Teofilo Villahermosa and Ralph Villahermosa.

Seized were 14 pieces of Indonesian-made Galil assault rifles, 102 pieces of magazines, a Glock 9mm caliber automatic pistol and two loaded magazines, 10 pieces holsters and an ammunition case.

According to De Jesus, Tiu claimed that the seized Galil rifles were entrusted to him for safekeeping by a foreigner friend, who is also paying for the rental of his apartment unit.

The suspect could not tell the source of the firearms. But he denied he was selling them.

Police are readying illegal possession of firearms and ammunition charges against Tiu before the prosecutor’s office of Las Piñas City.

Tiu is presently detained at the RPIOU detention center in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.