4 Chinese get life for firearms, explosives

LAOAG CITY, Philippines  – Four Chinese men have been sentenced to life imprisonment for possession of firearms and improvised explosive devices, the Ilocos Norte police office said yesterday.

Leng Haiyun, Dang Huiyin, Liu Wen Xion and Lei Guang Feng were found guilty by Laoag Judge Francisco Quilala for illegal possession of explosives and violation of the gun ban imposed by the Commission on elections in 2013.

The Chinese were arrested at a checkpoint in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte on May 28, 2013.

Police recovered from them three sub-machine guns, several handguns, four silencers, eight grenades, ammunitions, improvised explosive devices and several car registration plates.

The Bureau of Immigration earlier said the Chinese were members of an organized crime group operating in north Luzon.