Gun in Indonesian terror raid traced to Phl cop

MANILA, Philippines - The Intelligence Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP) has already identified the police officer whose government-issued handgun was recovered from terrorists in Indonesia, an official said yesterday.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. said intelligence agents have “identified the unit and the policeman holder of the 9mm. Our agents are checking on the circumstances.”

He said they are investigating how the gun ended up in the hands of Indonesian terrorists. The police officer was assigned to the southern part of the Philippines.

The newspaper Jakarta Post reported that Indonesia Police Watch chairman Neta Pane said the police seized a Beretta pistol with “Property Philippines National Police” stamped on its side during a raid in Solo City (also called Surakarta City) in Central Java on Aug. 31.

Cerbo said the firearm was traced after Indonesian authorities took note of the gun’s serial number.

He said it is possible that the gun was stolen “by the local extremist group” and later smuggled into Indonesia.